A bank robber spat at a prosecutor after an application for dangerous criminal status was made to the Launceston Supreme Court.
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Marcus Denis Mayne was found guilty of armed robbery on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old walked into the ANZ bank at Mowbray in September 2017 and used a knife he had hidden in a Woolworths bag to threaten a customer and demand money from the teller.
He said to the bank employee: "This is a hold-up. This is a stick-up. Put the money in the bag or she gets it".
The teller put $2000 cash in the Woolworths bag and Mayne also took $250 from the customer.
TRIAL
During sentencing submissions, crown prosecutor John Ransom detailed Mayne's "truly concerning" criminal history.
Mayne repeatedly interrupted the prosecutor, leading to Mr Ransom to make a submission to have the robber removed from the courtroom.
Defence lawyer Evan Hughes briefly spoke to his client before Justice Robert Pearce told the prosecutor to continue.
After going through Mayne's criminal history, which included escaping from custody, Mr Ransom made an application for the bank robber to be declared a dangerous criminal.
The submission was met with anger from Mayne who stood in the dock, spat in the direction of Mr Ransom and called him a "dog".
Before the robber was removed from the courtroom he also threatened Mr Ransom.
The state's Sentencing Act prevents an offender declared a "dangerous criminal" from being released until the order is lifted.
Sentencing submissions continued without Mayne present.
Mr Hughes told the court his client's life was marred by drug abuse, with his mother addicted to prescription pills and he had no relationship with his father.
The court also heard drug addiction had plagued the 31-year-old's life and played a significant role in his past offending.
At age seven Mayne was placed at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, the court heard.
Mr Hughes said he was not at Ashley because of offending, it was because there was no suitable foster care placement available.
The court heard Mayne has qualified to be kept in a medium security unit, but is being kept in maximum because of his record of escape.
Justice Pearce said due to the nature of the crime and Mayne's background, a lengthy sentence was likely.
A report from the chief forensic psychiatrist was ordered to assist Justice Pearce in determining the dangerous criminal application.
Sentencing was adjourned until April 10.
