Curtly Hodge: Launceston man jailed for shotgun, Myer theft
A Tasmanian man in his early-twenties will remain behind bars after he was sentenced on more than a dozen charges, including a highway jaunt with a loaded shotgun.
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A Tasmanian man in his early-twenties will remain behind bars after he was sentenced on more than a dozen charges, including flogging more than $1000 worth of goods from Myer and going on a highway jaunt with a loaded shotgun.
South Launceston man Curtly James Hodge, 22, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday to 13 offences, mostly related to thefts from Myer Launceston and United Petroleum Launceston, and possessing the Henri Pieper 16-gauge shotgun.
The thefts from Myer occurred on July 4 and 15 this year. He and a co-accused pushing a pram to store stolen goods pilfered expensive apparel and perfume on the two occasions, worth a total of $1050. Some of the goods were recovered.
On August 4, Hodge commenced his day by swiping cigarettes and Gatorade from United Petroleum Launceston. He then barrelled up the Bass Hwy to Ulverstone, evading police along the way at Turners Beach when they witnessed him speeding and overtaking across a double line.
Hodge’s empty vehicle was discovered at Clark St, Ulverstone, shortly before police discovered the defendant sitting on the back porch of a nearby William St residence.
A search of his backpack uncovered two shotgun shells and two clipseal bags of cannabis. Hodge admitted he had secreted the shotgun and an ice pipe in a nearby couch.
His possession of the shotgun was in breach of two separate court orders, the court heard.
Hodge has been remanded in pre-sentence custody for a total of 95 days.
Defence lawyer Berivan Kurdistan told the court her client had a prejudicial upbringing and was living on the streets by age 12.
She said that although her client had become “institutionalised” from stints in prison, he remained a young offender for the purposes of sentencing.
Magistrate Simon Brown sentenced Hodge to five months’ imprisonment, backdated to August 5.
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