A MAN who threatened to hit two female staff members of the City Park Grand Hotel with a jemmy bar has escaped an immediate jail sentence.
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Nathan John Cosgrove, 32, of Legana, pleaded guilty in July to aggravated burglary and three counts of stealing alcohol and from the staff member's bags on April 30, 2019.
Justice Michael Brett sentenced Cosgrove to a drug treatment order rather than an actual jail sentence after a report found him eligible and suitable.
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He told Cosgrove that it was not an easy order and if he didn't comply he would end up serving all or part of a two year jail sentence.
The court heard that Cosgrove entered the hotel in Tamar street wearing a high vis vest, a bandana carrying a backpack and a jemmy bar.
He removed items and cigarettes from the handbag and purse of the women, employed as a cook and a waitress,who had started work about 5.50am.
He then forced open a storage area and stole eight bottles of Baileys Irish Cream and 10 mixed bottles.
The woman trapped the man inside by pushing on a glass door that he was seeking to escape through.
One pushed on the glass door while the other called police.
At first, he said he was not going to hurt them but after continued pushing, he held the jemmy bar in a raised position "if you don't let me out I'm going to f...ing hit you".
He escaped by jumping into the car park and running towards the Albert Hall.
Cosgrove spent about a year in custody before being bailed in April 2020.
Justice Brett said it was very serious criminal conduct that included threatening the employees with a weapon.
"A burglary at that time was likely to encounter staff," he said.
Justice Brett said Cosgrove had a lengthy history of continuous offending and that he had been convcited for numerous burglaries and dishonesty offences.
He said the treatment order recognised a significant link between his offending and drug use.
"On this occasion you were stealing to obtain money to buy drugs," he said.
"Mr Cosgrove this is really your last chance and you will have to stick scrupulously to the conditions of the order."
"It will be nobody else's fault but your own if you break any of these conditions.
"If you do their is a reward but if you don't you will serve some or all of the sentence.
Defence counsel Evan Hughes said that since his release from jail Cosgrove had committed no offences.
"His partner has seen the highs and lows of his life and she says he is in a good position to comply with the order," he said. A compensation order was adjourned.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
