Armed robber dodges jail

An Albany 19-year-old who committed an attempted armed robbery of a 65-year-old man at his home in Spencer Park has been told he is "very lucky" to not be immediately jailed.

Jordan Vieswav Ferrell was one of three males charged over the attempted home invasion in January this year, accused of threatening the man with a knife and replica firearm at his Angove Road unit, and demanding cash.

The man fended off the teenagers with a kitchen knife, causing minor injuries to one of the juveniles.

His defence counsel said Ferrell was not the ringleader to the incident, instead he stood back while the two co-accused, a 14-year-old and 15-year-old, threatened the man with the gun and knife, and pulled and kicked his security door.

The court heard Ferrell had faced being homeless since he was 15 and reacted angrily to one of the juveniles being cut to the face by smashing two front windows at the home with an iron bar.

Judge Stephen Scott accepted Ferrell had "tagged along" and there had been no earlier discussion of targeting elderly people.

He said it was to the victim's "great credit" he fought back.

"For the victim, it must have scared the life out of him," Judge Scott said.

"Dealing with a man in his 60s, at night, he probably was enjoying his life and security until three blokes decided to rob him in company, and it's to his great credit he fought back.

"He is going to suffer for a long time."

Judge Scott took into account Ferrell's efforts of rehabilitation, his upbringing and his lesser role in the attempted armed robbery before deciding to suspend the 16-month jail term for 18 months.

He was also served with a four-month concurrent suspended jail term for a charge of criminal damage.