South Australia's notorious "bicycle bandit", Kym Allen Parsons, will have his sentencing fast-tracked because he is "suffering" and wants to access voluntary assisted dying procedures, SA's Supreme Court has heard.
An urgent closed court hearing was held on Thursday, which the ABC has been given permission to access on transcript.
During that hearing, the Supreme Court heard that Parsons, who is terminally ill, plans to access the treatment to end his life at the Flinders Medical Centre.
Parsons this week pleaded guilty to 10 counts of aggravated robbery, which he carried out in small South Australian towns between 2004 and 2014.
His sentencing, which was due to be handed down next Friday, will now be moved forward to Monday after his lawyer requested it be fast-tracked.
The court heard Parsons had been permitted to use voluntary assisted dying laws before he entered custody.
Parsons' lawyer, James Marcus, told the court his client wanted to be sentenced as soon as possible, so he could go ahead with the procedure.
"He is feeling very poorly and is suffering," Mr Marcus said.
"He does not wish to access the voluntary assisted dying procedures until your Honour has passed sentence."
In a hearing on Monday, victims described their ongoing trauma and suffering as a result of being targeted in armed bank robberies carried out by Parsons.
The court heard Parsons stole a total of $358,976.90 during the hold-ups and would repay the full amount.
The robberies occurred at bank branches throughout towns within an hour or two of Adelaide — including at Mannum, Lobethal, Tanunda, Yankalilla, Balaklava, Willunga and Mount Pleasant, which Parsons ambushed three times.
He often made his escape on a bike, earning him the nickname "bicycle bandit".
The 73-year-old was arrested last year after an investigation stretching back almost two decades.