A man who admitted to threatening another man before he was violently robbed in Canberra's north has been spared jail and instead ordered to complete 400 hours of community service.
Omar Haddara, 30, was convicted in August over his involvement in the robbery of a man who was lured to the home of someone he knew, before several people attacked him and forced him to transfer money.
Haddara had sent threatening text messages to the man before the incident last year, saying he was helping a friend collect a debt.
"You are a weak dog and your debt has just doubled, and when I see you I'll flog you," Haddara told the man.
In the ACT Supreme Court, he said he gained nothing from the robbery and denied he was armed like the others.
He told the court his threats had just been "tough talk" that he never intended to carry out.
Justice David Mossop conceded there was no evidence Haddara had gained anything, noting it was unclear what his motive had been.
But in his initial ruling, the judge said it was clear Haddara was more than a mere follower.
The sentencing was delayed while Haddara was assessed for an intensive corrections order.
He was found suitable, and Justice Mossop today imposed an order of two years and seven months, meaning Haddara will not spend time in jail.
The judge acknowledged the sentence might not appear to adequately reflect the gravity of the crime.
"It may be seen as having an inadequate punitive component,” he said.
Justice Mossop said he hoped a fine of $7,500 would go some way toward addressing that concern.
He also spoke to Haddara directly, warning him to take advantage of his luck.
"The sentence I have given you keeps you out of jail and, in that sense, it's a very lenient one,” the judge said.
"I hope you take the opportunity you have been given to stay out of trouble."
