The defendant, 18 years old at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to attempt robbery, robbery, use of an imitation firearm, and flight from police.
The offences occurred on January 30 and 31, 2020, in St. Catharines, Ontario.
The defendant and three youths from Toronto and Peel Region arrived in a stolen vehicle to commit the crimes.
The first incident involved an attempted robbery at a Scotia Bank; the second involved a successful robbery of a Bank of Montreal where $1,500 was obtained.
A high-speed chase ensued, during which the stolen vehicle was abandoned and the defendant was apprehended after a physical struggle with police.
The court imposed a sentence of 15 months in custody plus 13 months of pre-sentence custody (totaling 28 months), followed by two years of probation.
The sentence balanced denunciation and deterrence against the defendant's genuine remorse, lack of prior criminal record, and strong prospects for rehabilitation.