But Judge Irene Lawson regarded Benjamin Costello, 30, as a person "capable of redemption" and sentenced him to him to 210 days of time in custody he had already served, plus a community corrections with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Costello pleaded guilty last year to armed robbery, common assault and theft in relation to events that occurred on September 24, 2016.

Costello and his co-offender Brenton Mathews met at a Redan Street address about the same time three victims, then aged 18 and 19, arrived at a nearby home in a Volkswagen car.

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One of the victims went inside before Costello walked towards the vehicle, picked up a tree branch, and struck the driver's door.

Costello told the driver he wanted drugs, and when the driver said he did not have any, Costello reached in and pulled the keys from the ignition.

He then punched the driver in the head.

The man who went inside came out and asked what was happening, but was driven back inside by Costello and Mathews, who armed himself with a golf club.

Costello punched and kicked the man, asking for his "gear", then he and Mathews went back outside to the vehicle.

Costello demanded the driver get out, while Mathews smashed the driver's window with the golf club.

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Costello and Mathews both hit the driver, before he and the other vehicle occupant fled.

Mathews and Costello then took the vehicle.

Later that day, Costello went to a Kangaroo Flat fast food restaurant and stole a hamburger.

The next day, police stopped a hire car Mathews had driven the morning of the crimes and found items belonging to the victims.

Mathews later surrendered himself and the stolen Volkswagen to police.

But Costello left for South Australia and was extradited back to Victoria the following month.

At Costello's plea hearing last year, defence counsel Nicholas Goodfellow told the court his client had acted spontaneously on a suggestion from his then-girlfriend that people down the road were "ripping her off".

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Judge Lawson noted Costello's criminal history, namely charges of violence and other offences for which he was placed on a 12-month community corrections order in 2013, and later breached.

But she said he had successfully completed a court program while on bail for these offences, and engaged well in drug counselling.

The court also heard of the high regard in which Costello's former employer held him.

Judge Lawson acknowledged Costello's disadvantaged upbringing and its continuing impact on his life, his drug abuse and his mental health issues.

Referring to a pre-sentencing report, she said she accepted that Costello had shown genuine motivation to change.

Judge Lawson said Costello's guilty plea showed he took responsibility for his actions and had value in preventing the need for a trial.

She took into account the time he had already spent in custody for this matter and "dead time" on another matter that was later dropped.

"To impose an actual further term of imprisonment would be severely counterproductive and disruptive of your situation, in particular your mental health, and in my view, would expose you to further deterioration in your condition," Judge Lawson said.

Costello was sentenced to 210 days' imprisonment and a community corrections order of two years and six months, with 200 hours of unpaid community work.

He will be under supervision, must undertake offender behaviour programs, and must undergo assessment and treatment as directed for alcohol, drugs and mental health issues.

Time in treatment can count towards the community work hours.

Costello was also ordered to provide a DNA sample to police.

If not for the guilty plea, Judge Lawson said she would have imposed a three-year jail term with a non-parole period of two years.

Costello's co-offender Mathews, who was 18 at the time of the offending, was earlier sentenced to two and a half years in a youth justice centre, with 176 days served before sentencing.

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