A man who attempted to gain entry to a home and then resisted police for more than an hour, while destroying cars and businesses in Launceston, has received a prison sentence.
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Brett Julian Robinson-Stacey, 22, was sentenced to one year and 10 months, with 14 months non-parole, by Justice Robert Pearce in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier date.
The court heard Robinson-Stacey attempted to gain entry to a house in West Launceston in 2016 while a couple and their two children, aged one and three, were inside.
After attempting to enter the home for around three to four minutes, Robinson-Stacey ran off.
When police found him, he had two knives, the court heard. He threatened to stab officers and it resulted in a police cordon. OC spray was used in an attempt to arrest him but that had no effect, Justice Pearce said.
Robinson-Stacey walked 3.2 kilometres, damaging eight cars and eight buildings along the way, mainly smashing windows, causing $31,000 in damage.
He injured himself during that time and eventually collapsed, the court heard.
Justice Pearce noted Robinson-Stacey had a history of drug use, offending, and custodial sentences. He took the plea of guilty into account and noted there was no actual violence, but said there was a “real need to protect the public”.
He said the offence was “very serious” and that it was a “frightening ordeal” for the family, which took an emotional and financial toll on them.
