Stephen Paul Ambroso, 28, threatened to stab two men while demanding money from them on Pall Mall in the early hours of March 29.

He pleaded guilty in Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday to two counts of robbery and one charge of intentionally damaging property.

Ambroso was with a friend when he encountered the two victims around 1am and stole $55 from them, placing his hands in his front pockets to make them believe he had a knife.

He then tried to hide in the Shamrock Hotel before being thrown out by security staff and then fled on foot into Hargreaves Street.

About 10 minutes later he saw his friend arguing with a group of males including the victims, who were demanding the return of their money. He denied robbing them but was arrested by police.

The court also heard in August last year he was arrested after scratching graffiti into a counter top and table at the Kangaroo Flat Hungry Jacks outlet and causing nearly $2500 worth of damage.

Defence lawyer Marcus Langlois told the court while his client had a criminal history, this was the first offending of this nature. He said Ambroso, who has spent the past five-and-a-half months in custody, was ashamed of his behaviour but had little recollection of the night.

The court heard he was arrested just one month following his release from Fulham Prison.

Mr Langlois said Ambroso had completed several education courses while in custody and had engaged in drug and alcohol counselling. But he said his client, who began using methamphetamine when he was 19, would benefit from a community corrections order to further address his drug habit.

He said Ambroso was also experiencing mental health issues and asked the matter be adjourned for a psychiatric report to be prepared.

The case was adjourned until October.