Five Corrective Services officers were required to guard Ricky Kincheila in Newcastle District Court because the 20-year-old, formerly of Islington, escaped while on remand in May last year.

He was captured after four days on the run and was later jailed for three months, Judge John Nield said.

Kincheila was armed with a piece of timber when he and four others stormed the tavern at 9.50pm on August 20, 2008, Judge Nield said.

Other members of the gang were armed with a machete, a piece of timber and a baseball bat while the fifth member carried a sports bag.

All five covered their faces with either masks, T-shirts or balaclavas.

There were three staff members and three patrons at the tavern during the robbery.

Judge Nield said the ordeal would have been "frightening if not terrifying" for the witnesses.

The gang escaped with $39,442 and Kincheila used his share to buy a car for $4000.

He was charged after police recorded a conversation between him and an undercover operative in a Bathurst police station holding cell.

Kincheila admitted his involvement in the robbery to the operative in February 2009.

Kincheila pleaded guilty to robbery in company and armed robbery.

Judge Nield sentenced him to a total of seven years and six months' jail with a non-parole period of four years and nine months.

Kincheila will be eligible for parole in November 2013.

Kincheila and two juveniles robbed the Kahibah Newsagency at 4am on November 26, 2008. The trio stole cigarettes, $2100 and a chocolate bar.

Kincheila's DNA was detected on the chocolate bar wrapper and a cigarette butt that were both found in the stolen getaway car.

The car was found parked outside a Mayfield home after the robbery.

Judge Nield also took into account offences of resisting arrest, breaking and entering and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company.