In handing down his sentence in the District Court in Albury, Judge Martin Blackmore said neither Williams nor Sullivan should have expected any leniency and their punishment must serve as a deterrent.

“This type of offence appears to be prevalent in this community,” Judge Blackmore said.

“At these sittings I have 12 offenders for similar crimes.”

He said Sullivan, 20, had negligible prospects for rehabilitation with probation and parole officers having expressed exasperation in their reports and a desire not to be involved with him.

“No one could have any expectation that this sentence would be his last,” Judge Blackmore said.

Sullivan, who pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated break, enter and steal in company, will serve a non-parole period of two years and six months on one charge and two years and four months on the other.

He will be eligible for parole on February 11, 2014, with his 12-month parole period expiring on February 11, 2015.

Judge Blackmore, who had previously sentenced Williams, 23, on an armed robbery charge and ordered he attend a drug rehabilitation course, said Williams would serve a full four years in jail if he again failed to complete the course.

Williams will be eligible for 15 months’ parole from November 11, 2013 but it must take the form of a full-time drug rehabilitation course.

“I trust an offender to report to probation and parole and complete the rehabilitation course as directed,” Judge Blackmore said.

“In your case I won’t make the same mistake again.

“Any failure to attend a course for any reason will be regarded as a breach of parole and you will be returned to prison.”

Williams had pleaded guilty to the offence at a service station in Union Road, Lavington, on February 11, with the other matter put on a form before Judge Blackmore.

One hundred and fifty packets of cigarettes were stolen from the service station and alcohol taken from the IGA supermarket at Springdale Heights on February 12.