Ricky Lee Smith-Towns, 27, has pleaded not guilty to robbing Ziggy Hancock-Yost on the corner of Blyth Street and Prossers Forest Road at Ravenswood on October 12.

On the first day of the trial, the court heard the accused and Mr Hancock-Yost knew each other from around the neighbourhood.

Mr Hancock-Yost had allegedly sent Mr Smith-Towns' partner a number of Facebook messages in the past eight years.

While giving evidence in the Launceston Supreme Court on Wednesday, Mr Hancock-Yost said the couple were always "on and off" and thought they were broken up when he sent the messages.

The court heard after Mr Smith-Towns found out about the messages Mr Hancock-Yost made contact via Facebook to say he wouldn't purposely deceive the accused.

But Mr Hancock-Yost continued to message the woman, the court heard.

Mr Hancock-Yost was warned to stop messaging Mr Smith-Towns' partner when the two men saw each other at Ravenswood IGA two weeks before the alleged incident but Mr Hancock-Yost persisted, the jury was told.

Defence lawyer Hannah Phillips asked Mr Hancock-Yost if he saw what happened as random despite the fact he repeatedly contacted Mr Smith-Towns' partner.

Mr Hancock-Yost said yes.

The court heard Mr Smith-Towns walked towards the Blyth Street units with the bicycle, flipped it upside down and told Mr Hancock-Yost to come and get it.

Mr Hancock said he stayed at the corner, called his father and reported the theft to police.

Mr Smith-Towns told police in an interview three days after the alleged incident that he didn't have the bicycle, but about two months before the trial he returned the BMX to Mr Hancock-Yost and apologised to him.

During his closing address, crown prosecutor Luke Ogden said Mr Smith-Towns returned the bike in a bid to avoid punishment.

The trial before Justice Michael Brett continues.