Burglar tried to cast his way into tobacco store with fishing rod

A George Town man has pleaded guilty to trying to rob a tobacco store armed with a fishing rod.

A George Town man used a fishing rod in an attempt to gain after hours entry to a tobacco store by casting a sinker into its windows, a court has heard.

A GEORGE TOWN man used a fishing rod in an attempt to gain entry to a closed store by casting a sinker into its windows a court has heard.

Dale Andrew Henry, 40, pleaded guilty to burglary, destruction of property, trespass and drug possession in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Friday.

It was alleged that Mr Henry smashed a window of a Caltex service station with a hammer at 11.30pm on April 29 last year in an attempt to gain entry.

When he reached through the window he set off the alarm and cut himself leaving behind a drop of blood and DNA evidence before fleeing the scene.

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On another date at 5.10pm, Mr Henry was allegedly walking past a closed tobacco store with a fishing rod.

He cast the line and sinker at the store window in an attempt to break the glass, but failed.

He walked away and returned shortly later to try again with another cast, this time cracking the glass, but not breaking through.

He kicked the glass, setting off an alarm and then walked away without gaining entry.

Police attended his address and located two grams of cannabis in a tin of his kitchen bench.

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Mr Henry appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Sharon Cure on Friday after he dismissed his lawyer because she was not the same lawyer that represented him at his last appearance.

Magistrate Cure asked Mr Henry if he was aware some of the alleged crimes were a breach of a suspended sentence he was already subject to and that he could be going to prison.

He said he was not.

Magistrate Cure advised him to seek legal representation ordered a corrections update.

She adjourned the matter for sentence on March 11.

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