Michael John Cowie was found guilty of aggravated robbery earlier this month, following a Launceston Supreme Court trial.

On May 1 – five weeks after he had been released from jail – he broke into the Paterson Street business in an attempt to find money to feed his drug addiction.

Two women had arrived at the business to set-up breakfast for the hotel’s guests and were met by Cowie, who clubbed one of them in the back of the head and forced the other to hand over cash.

Justice Shan Tennent said the woman who was struck had quit her job at the hotel.

“The impact on the lady you hit has been significant,” Justice Tennent told Cowie, who appeared in court via videolink from Risdon Prison on Thursday.

“She could not go back to work and became unemployed.”

Justice Tennent also said the second victim, who was forced to bow to Cowie’s demands while her colleague bled on the floor, took four weeks off work following the crime.

Cowie was caught the day after the incident, after CCTV footage of him was circulated by media outlets.

He was charged with aggravated armed robbery, with the Crown alleging he had a knife during the ordeal.

He was found not guilty, but was instead convicted of the lesser crime of aggravated robbery, after admitting to police he was the man caught on film.

Cowie has a criminal record in four states and once threatened to kill someone.

His lawyer Alan Hensley said Cowie’s offending was the result of a serious addiction.

Last year, Cowie was convicted of using the names of his fellow inmates to defraud Centrelink.

Cowie had claimed about $6700 in Newstart allowance to which he was not entitled between May and August 2012.

Cowie was jailed for three years for the TRC Hotel offence.

He will be eligable for parole after two years.