Thomas Josiah Smith robbed Tugun Bowls Club while armed with knife

A robber made off with thousands of dollars in cash after threatening staff at a southern Gold Coast bowls club with a knife - but was "almost inevitably" going to be identified as a previous customer, a court has been told.

A man has walked away from court after threatening staff at a Gold Coast bowls club with a large knife and pocketing thousands of dollars in cash.

Thomas Josiah Smith donned thongs and tried to disguise his face with a beanie when he robbed the Tugun Bowls Club just before 7pm on July 16 last year.

CCTV footage played during earlier sentencing proceedings in Southport District Court showed Smith follow a male staff member into the bar area and pull a large stainless steel knife from the waistband of his pants.

The 37-year-old demanded cash from all of the nearby registers - telling another two staff members not to move or he would "do something" - and made off with close to $3000.

He was soon identified but initially denied the robbery when arrested at his home the next day.

Thomas Josiah Smith has pleaded guilty to robbing the Tugun Bowls Club while armed with a large knife. Picture: QPS

Crown prosecutor Kelli Lemass said in July's sentencing proceedings that he showed some level of premeditation in going home to retrieve the knife before returning to the club, and that the use of the weapon was "particularly menacing".

The court was told expert medical reports indicated Smith had a "complex mental health profile" featuring numerous diagnoses and was also intoxicated at the time of the robbery, making it likely he was suffering a range of impairments when he targeted the bowls club.

Smith made off with close to $3000 in cash. Picture: QPS

In a letter of apology to the court, Smith said he had "hit rock bottom" at the time but no longer drank alcohol and was striving to address his mental health and support his family.

Defence barrister Martin Longhurst said his client's previous alcohol abuse was also linked to childhood trauma.

Mr Longhurst said Smith was receiving ongoing psychiatric treatment and was due to start a new job next week.

Judge Deborah Holliday said the robbery involved "amateurish" planning, but that Smith was almost inevitably going to be identified as a previous customer at the venue and now planned to reimburse those impacted.

Judge Holliday said she accepted Smith was struggling with poor mental health and several other stressors at the time, and that being put behind bars would disrupt his ongoing treatment.

Smith pleaded guilty to armed robbery. He was sentenced to three years' jail with immediate parole and ordered to pay $2800 in compensation.

Originally published as Thomas Josiah Smith robbed Tugun Bowls Club while armed with knife