Hamish Ronald Smith saves himself a year in jail by pleading guilty
A 32-year-old man who was intoxicated when he robbed a bus driver with an imitation firearm was jailed when he appeared in the Supreme Court in Launceston for sentence.
A Launceston man who was armed with an imitation firearm when he robbed a bus driver of $30 and then waved it around in public was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston on Wednesday.
Hamish Ronald Smith, 32, pleaded guilty to a count of armed robbery and being unlawfully armed in public on June 26, 2025. He also pleaded guilty to summary firearms charges and possession of an ice pipe and two credit cards.
The court heard that Smith had consumed nearly six litres of wine before the robbery.
Justice Robert Pearce said that Smith boarded a bus in St John Street in the Launceston CBD at about 12.45pm.
The court heard that Smith had been run over by a taxi in the past and had received benefits from MAIB.
However, shortly before he got on the bus he had been told by MAIB that his benefits would be cut off because he had overcome his leg injury.
Justice Pearce said Smith rode on the bus to Rocherlea but did not realise until it stopped at 1.10pm that he had caught the wrong bus.
The bus driver allowed him to ride back to St John Street but upon arrival he demanded that the driver take him to Mayfield or he would sleep on the bus.
The driver rang Metro who called police.
“The accused stood up and walked to the front of the bus saying ‘I want your money’,” the court heard.
“He pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun and pointed it at the driver’s head and demanded the money.
Justice Pearce said the accused took the cash float which contained about $30.
Smith walked to the Quadrant Mall where he pulled the black gun and began waving it around.
“Witnesses saw the accused gesticulating with the gun in his hand stating that he was going to shoot people,” the court heard.
Police arrested him shortly after.
The firearm was identified as a gel blaster with the appearance of a Glock.
Smith had been in custody since June 26, 2025.
Justice Pearce said that armed robbery was treated as a very serious crime.
“This was not a sophisticated crime, you had no plan and did not try to conceal your identity,” he said.
He said that while the firearm was not real the bus driver would not have known that.
“He was very scared by the incident but fortunately he suffered not long term impact,” Justice Pearce said.
He said that but for Smith’s early plea of guilty he would have received a jail term of three and a half years.
He sentenced him to two and half years jail backdated to June 26 and allowed parole after half the term.
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Originally published as Hamish Ronald Smith saves himself a year in jail by pleading guilty
