Woolies robber pleads guilty

A MAN tried to steal more than $1000 worth of chocolates, lollies and underwear from a Hobart supermarket and threw punches at a cashier as he was leaving, a court has heard.

Jack Bradley Harvey, 21, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart to one count of robbery.

Crown prosecutor Anna Norton told the court Harvey went to the Woolworths supermarket on Campbell St about 5pm on September 2 last year.

Ms Norton said Harvey filled a trolley with $1082 worth of lollies, chocolates, underwear and socks and tried to leave the store without paying for them.

She said that as he was leaving, a cashier took hold of the trolley and Harvey said to him: “I’ll do what I want. I don’t care.”

Ms Norton said of the 20 punches Harvey threw, one connected with the right side of the cashier’s face, and he hit the cashier three times to the upper arm.

“He walked out the front door saying he would come LORETTA LO LOHBERGER LO back to get [the cashier], that he was already on the run and didn’t care,” Ms Norton said.

She said Harvey told police he stole the items because he did not have any money and he was under the influence of drugs at the time.

Justice Stephen Estcourt said the stealing would have been dealt with by the Hobart Magistrates Court but the addition of the violence meant he faced a more serious charge of robbery.

Ms Norton said it may have been unwise for the cashier to attempt to stop Harvey from leaving with the stolen goods but ultimately it was Harvey’s conduct that had brought him before the court.

Justice Estcourt ordered a pre-sentence report and an assessment of Harvey’s suitability for a drug treatment order, remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until late next month.