A Tauranga man will serve two years and nine months in prison for his part in the knifepoint robbery of the Brookfield Veterinary Centre.

Colin Thomas Borthwick, 23, appeared in Tauranga District Court today for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to one count of aggravated robbery.

Colin Thomas Borthwick, 23, in Tauranga District Court for sentencing today.

On July 24 this year Borthwick entered the vets on Otumoetai Road wearing a balaclava and armed with a carving knife.

According to court documents he and a woman, who was also disguised and carrying a baton, approached the counter about 5.20pm.

A lone female worker was in the backroom of the vet centre when the pair appeared demanding cash and drugs.

The female worker was forced to put $250 in a plastic bag, along with drugs used at the practice, before the pair fled to a waiting vehicle driven by a third person.

Police then stopped the car a short time later down on Bureta Road and arrested Borthwick and two other alleged offenders.

Co-accused Cathy Anne Davies, 33 and Lucy Jane Kellick, 26, have pleaded not guilty to armed robbery. They have been remanded on bail until their next court appearance.

In sentencing today, Crown lawyer Hayley Sheriden requested a starting point sentence of two years and nine months to three years jail, of the possible maximum sentence of six years.

Judge Peter Rollo sentenced Borthwick to two years and nine months jail and ordered him to pay $230 reparation to be paid at $25 a week once he is released from jail.