A Westbury man broke into a Fingal property and stole firearms because he wanted something to sell to feed his drug addiction, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard.
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Michael Gregory Fish, 36, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, stealing firearms and stealing ammunition and a wedding ring on between April 21 and April 22, 2019.
Crown prosecutor Virginia Jones said Fish entered through the front door of the Esk Road home.
He grabbed a crowbar and claw hammer from the complainants storage shed to jemmy open a firearm safe and steal ammunition and firearm magazines worth a total of $1750.
He then loaded the firearms safe into a wheelie bin before loading it into a utility.
He was caught after police forensically matched his DNA to the crow bar and claw hammer and after arrest examined his mobile phone which showed that his phone's signal was bouncing of the South Sister tower which was in close proximity to the complainants house.
Ms Jones said Fish had a significant record for firearms offences and dishonesty matters.
Defence counsel Olivia Jenkins said Fish was in the middle of a methylamphetamine addiction when he committed the aggravated burglary.
"He was looking for anything that could be traded or sold so that he could buy illicit substances," Ms Jenkins said.
Fish, who is already serving a 10-month sentence after the cancellation of a drug order last September will be sentenced by Acting Justice David Porter on December 17 at 4pm.
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.
