A St. John's man has been sentenced to 26 months for attempting to hold up a gas station in St. John's this spring —enough of a sentence to put him into a drug program.

Gerald Connolly, 30, admits he went into the Ultramar station on Freshwater Road in April with a knife and demanded money.

The attendant picked up a piece of steel and told Connolly to get out. Connolly left the scene empty-handed.

Court was told that Connolly is addicted to Percocet.

He asked for a federal sentence — more than two years —so that he can avail of a program to get help for his addiction.

Court was told that this was the third time the attendant had been involved in a holdup.

The Crown noted that working in a St. John's gas station these days is a dangerous business.