Man robbed poker player 'over ice debt'

A Melbourne man who robbed an American poker player of $31,000 in winnings owed his co-offender money for the drug ice, a court has heard.

Dwayne Johnstone had admitted robbing American Jason Potter of his winnings after he left a poker tournament at Crown Casino in January last year.

The County Court heard Johnstone and his co-accused Vhyharn Arumughasamy followed Mr Potter through the casino after seeing him redeem tokens for a large amount of cash.

Prosecutor John Goetz told the pre-sentence hearing that Johnstone, 33, of St Albans, told Arumughasamy to get his car as he watched Mr Potter leave the casino for his hotel.

The robbers stayed in contact by mobile phone and as Mr Potter walked toward his hotel, Johnstone set upon him, punching him in the head and causing him to fall.

Johnstone, armed with a knife, then removed cash from the victim's clothing, Mr Goetz said.

He also demanded his wallet and told the professional poker player he would make it "hard" for him if he spoke of the robbery.

Johnstone then ran to the getaway car driven by Arumughasamy and they left the scene, Mr Goetz said.

Police searched the homes of both accused and found mobile phones, a knife and thousands of dollars in cash.

Of the $31,075 in cash stolen, more than $18,000 remains missing.

Johnstone, who committed the offences while on parole for another matter, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and unrelated charges of possessing cannabis and theft from a vehicle.

Defence lawyer Peter Triandos said that at the time of the robbery Johnstone was using the drug ice and owed Arumughasamy $2,000-$3,000 for it.

Johnstone also had a history of using heroin, amphetamines, cannabis and alcohol, he said.

Mr Triandos asked the judge not to impose a "crushing sentence", saying Johnstone's brain injury suffered during an assault five years earlier and his health issues could go some way to explaining his conduct.

But chief judge Michael Rozenes said there was nothing showing his moral culpability was lessened by these facts.

The crown requested Johnstone, who had a significant criminal history, receive immediate jail time.

His co-accused, Arumughasamy, was jailed last year for a minimum of 12 months after pleading guilty to armed robbery.

Johnston, who has been remanded in custody, will be sentenced next week.