Calvin Klemenz, 33, pleaded guilty to robbery with violence and robbery with a weapon for two incidents in the summer of 2007.
Crown prosecutor Tammy Pryznyk told court the first robbery happened at about 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 30, when Klemenz and his 16-year-old stepson went to a Victoria Avenue Mr. Sub restaurant in Regina hoping to steal money for cocaine.
Klemenz told the youth to go into the restaurant and rob it, and the youth went inside with a crowbar. He then pulled out a pellet gun, which had been painted black to look more realistic, Pryznyk said.
The clerk gave the youth about $300 and the youth took three bottles of Coke as he left the store and fled the scene with Klemenz.
The next robbery occurred a few hours later inside a taxi. In this case, Klemenz grabbed the seatbelt and tightened it to immobilize the cab driver, while the youth held a knife to the driver's chest and demanded money.
Pryznyk said Klemenz also held the pellet gun to the man's head, and grabbed about $200 from the driver's pocket.
The cab driver received a small cut to the chest.
Klemenz' lawyer, Kirk Rondeau, said the robberies occurred in the midst of a cocaine-fuelled binge.
Klemenz has a history of property offences, but no previous convictions for violence.
"This is a cocaine-fuelled spree that would appear to be out of character in terms of violence," Rondeau said.
He said his client hopes to use his time in prison to become a productive citizen.
Provincial court Judge Kenn Bellerose accepted the 48-month sentence which was jointly recommended by the defence and Crown, and gave Klemenz eight months credit for his time on remand.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I know I have a problem and I have to deal with it," Klemenz told court. "And I feel sorry for what I did to those people."
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