Postie robbed and motorbike stolen while on delivery route in Launceston's north, court told

The Supreme Court heard that Codie Ken Fazackerley, 28, carried out the robbery because he needed transport to Invermay, and because he thought it would be "amusing" to ride a postie's bike.

Fazackerley pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of robbery in relation to the incident at 12.40pm on October 16 last year.

The postie had stopped to deliver a parcel to a house on King Billy Crescent, Rocherlea, when Fazackerley approached from behind and "smacked" the parcel and scanner from his hands, demanding the keys to the motorbike.

The location of the robbery:

When the postie refused, Fazackerley threatened to bash him, prompting the postie to hand over the keys, which included an Australia Post master key.

Fazackerley took off with the bike which contained two bags of letters and parcels, along with the scanner and the postie's wallet and phone.

Several witnesses saw the robbery and were able to identify Fazackerley to police.

Cameras attached to the front and rear of the bike monitored Fazackerley as he rode towards Invermay, with items repeatedly falling off, including letters and parcels. Ten of the 12 parcels were later recovered.

The mail bag containing letters also fell off, and the court was unaware how many were found and reached their destination.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Fazackerley dumped the motorbike in Dunning Street, Invermay.

Police arrested and charged him later that day after he was found hiding under a bed at a property in Mayfield. The postie scanner battery had been removed costing $2000 to repair, while the motorbike had sustained minor damage.

Defence counsel Mark Doyle said Fazackerley had committed the robbery because he "wanted to get home quickly", that the crime was "opportunistic" and that he "thought it'd be amusing to ride a postie bike".

Mr Doyle also said the offending stemmed from Fazackerley's inability to reintegrate into society upon his release from prison.

"Fair to say hes institutionalised. Being in the community is overwhelming, it's stressful for him and he had an inability to cope," he said.

"It wont surprise your Honour that the attempt to cope was self-medication."

Mr Doyle said Fazackerley has been waiting for a place at a residential drug treatment facility, but "these opportunities don't grow on trees".

Judge Robert Pearce will sentence him on Friday.