Adam Christopher Irwin, 28, appeared via video link from custody in Tamworth District Court earlier this week when he was sentenced for two armed robberies he committed in 2019, after handing himself in to police and pleading guilty to the two charges.

Judge Deborah Payne convicted Irwin of the offences and sentenced him to an aggregate term of imprisonment of three years and nine months, with two years non-parole.

An armed robbery at a Narrabri truck stop was followed by a second armed robbery in Oxley Vale a few days later, which would have been "a very frightening experience" for the victims, she said.

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Agreed facts in the case and photographs had been handed to Judge Payne and submissions made by the Crown and defence.

The court heard Irwin was wearing a black face covering and was with an unidentified co-offender when they entered a Narrabri truck stop in the early hours of September 26, 2019 and cash was demanded.

Judge Payne said in her sentencing remarks the unknown man pressed a knife against the lone staff member's neck during the robbery, before the pair fled with money and cartons of cigarettes.

On the evening of September 29, 2019, Irwin entered the Summers Oxley Vale Superette armed with what the court heard was a butcher's knife, while two women were working.

He stole cash and cigarettes and tried to take a charity box full of coins off the counter but could not remove the chain, Judge Payne said.

He stuffed the notes down his underpants and fled.

The court heard Irwin had admitted to being "high on drugs" during the Oxley Vale hold-up.

Judge Payne said Irwin had spoken to detectives in September 2020, almost a year after the robberies, before attending the detective's house in Narrabri a few days later and saying he'd hand himself in.

On September 22, 2020, Irwin went to Narrabri police station and admitted to his involvement in the armed robberies and was charged.

Judge Payne said during sentencing that Irwin's victims were vulnerable and although there was no actual violence, there was a "real threat thereof".

"This must have been a very frightening experience for these victims working alone at night in a very vulnerable situation," she said of the Tamworth offence.

She said she had taken into account Irwin's remorse as well as his history, young age, special circumstances and "reasonable prospects" for rehabilitation.

She said not much money had been taken during what Irwin had said were "impulsive" robberies.

The sentence took into account a discount Irwin was legally entitled to and started from when Irwin went into custody last September.

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