Rikki James Williams appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court via video from Risdon Prison yesterday.

Williams had pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Launceston businesses last year.

This included $1400 in alcohol, a $900 phone from Telstra, a $600 iPad from Dick Smith's and $375 in clothes from Braap in January.

In February he stole a $320 pair of jeans from Allgoods.

In August he was charged with stealing $700 in clothes from Macpac.

He also pleaded guilty to assault, resisting police, stealing a car, unlicensed driving and evading police.

Magistrate Simon Brown said Williams committed the crimes while on drugs, coming down from them or sourcing funds to buy them.

A court-ordered drug rehabilitation program hadn't worked, he said.

Mr Brown said Williams had a "very bad" record and had committed the offences just weeks after receiving a suspended sentence.

The four-month sentence was for burglary, stealing, firearm, domestic violence and traffic offences.

Mr Brown ordered Williams serve a year's jail cumulative to the suspended sentence which he activated and backdated to January when Williams was first taken into custody.