A 19-year-old Motueka man who produced an iron bar and demanded cigarettes and money in a "Mickey Mouse" armed robbery of a dairy, knew the shop assistant and failed to cover his face.

Travis Crapper was yesterday sentenced in the Nelson District Court to two years four months in jail for the "unsophisticated" hold-up.

Crapper had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery. He also had admitted charges of breaching his community work and supervision. A charge of burglary was withdrawn.

Crown prosecutor Jackson Webber said the aggravated robbery was "the most Mickey Mouse aggravated robbery you could imagine".

Travis had pulled an iron bar on the shop assistant and got away with $50 worth of tobacco.

Lawyer Craig Stevenson said Travis was living on the street at the time and had no income.

Judge Tony Zohrab said on February 27 Crapper went into a dairy on King Edward St, pulled out a metal bar and demanded tobacco and cash. He did not make any attempt to disguise himself and the offending was not sophisticated as he was known to the person behind the counter.

He said Crapper was immature and had learning difficulties and problems with alcohol and drugs.

His offending had been brought about by desperation and the need to provide for himself as he was not on a benefit and had been living on the street.

Judge Zohrab said the offending would have been "extremely distressing" for the shop assistant.