An ice addict who made an unsuccessful welfare claim at Centrelink went on a crime spree after the knock-back, stealing a bag of buttons and assaulting three people.
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Shane Allen Wheldon pleaded guilty to a number of crimes that took place on April 9 last year, including two aggravated assaults and causing grievous bodily harm. He appeared in the Launceston Supreme Court on Thursday for sentencing submissions.
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Defence lawyer Patrick O'Halloran told the court Wheldon made no excuse for his actions.
But Mr O'Halloran said his client was battling an ice addiction at the time of the offending, causing him to act violent and erratic
A pre-sentence report from 2012 about Wheldon's upbringing, childhood and early adulthood was submitted to Chief Justice Alan Blow as part of mitigation.
In April 2018, Wheldon drove to Invermay and smashed a key safety box at a house being used for short-stay accommodation after having his welfare claim rejected. The house alarm sounded when he entered, so he fled on foot.
The 40-year-old was seen jumping fences into neighbouring properties throughout the northern suburb before he approached Dixon Kenneth Gray while he painted Beryl Rae Dix's house.
Wheldon asked if he could jump the back fence, but Mr Gray said no. Wheldon knocked Mr Gray unconscious, stole his mobile phone and glasses, and then went inside the house.
He hit Ms Dix with his forearm, also knocking her unconscious, and stole her car keys and a bag of buttons.
The ice addict fled to another house where he kicked down the back door, went upstairs and took a shower.
Police found Wheldon sitting naked on the toilet with a bath mat over his legs.
As Wheldon was about to be handcuffed, he punched Tasmania Police Constable Thomas Moir to the head which led to the pair exchanging blows until Sergeant Felicity Boyd used capsicum spray. Wheldon will be sentenced on May 17.
