Barry Allen: Tasmanian jailed for flogging $19K of booze, goods

A Tasmanian ice-addict has been jailed for committing 42 offences in a drug-fuelled spree to feed his habit, repeatedly flogging high-end bottles of booze across the state.

A Tasmanian ice-addict used his wheelchair, which he needed after he accidentally shot himself in the leg, and dressed as a woman to aid him in stealing more than $19,000 worth of high-end booze, clothes and electronics to help feed his rampant addiction, a court has heard.

Itinerant man Barry Allen, 29, understood to have grown up in the Launceston area and living at Kempton for a time, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday to 42 offences, committed between February – October last year, mostly in Launceston and Hobart.

Allen has been in custody since his arrest on October 7, three days after committing his last offences.

His offences included dozens of thefts of bottle shops, clothing retailers and electronic stores, as well as multiple charges of possessing drugs, breaching bail, driving while disqualified and possessing ammunition.

Allen was also found in possession of a loaded homemade pistol in a public place and a silencer, and drove with cannabis, ice and speed in his system, among other offending.

The court heard that prior to June, when Allen accidentally shot himself and transferred to a wheelchair, his modus operandi usually involved shoving expensive bottles of booze down his pants or into tote bags and brazenly leaving without paying, at times becoming aggressive towards attendants who attempted to stop him.

Alcohol he would steal included bottles of Penfolds Grange wine, Perrier Jouet and Dom Perignon champagne, Lark Distillery Rare Cask whisky and Hennessy Rare cognac, among other premium drops, the court heard.

Itinerant ice-addicted Tasmanian thief Barry Allen, 29, of Kempton for a time. Picture: Facebook

The most expensive booze he stole, a bottle of cognac, came in at a jaw-dropping $1320.

On one occasion, Allen inexplicably donned a wig, makeup and female clothes to help facilitate his theft of several bottles of Penfolds Grange.

Once in his wheelchair, Allen became even more brazen, using children to help distract staff while he plundered their stores, wedging items in hidden compartments.

In addition to bottle shops, Allen also helped himself to expensive stock from a Wilson Homes display home at Youngtown, Bunnings Glenorchy, Chemist Warehouse, Woolworths, Intersport Hobart and Redbill Surf Kingston.

Defence lawyer Fran McCracken told the court her client stole the luxury goods and high-end bottles of booze to feed his ice addiction, which she said consumed him following a breakdown of a relationship in 2018.

Ms McCracken said her client was also not taking his prescription medication properly during his latest spree.

Allen had a “long record” of relevant prior convictions, Ms McCracken told the court, but noted he had had periods where he stayed away from trouble, such as between 2013–18.

She said Allen had an offer of casual work at his brother’s flooring business upon his release from custody.

Magistrate Simon Brown sentenced Allen to ten-and-a-half months’ imprisonment, backdated to his arrest on October 7, and made it cumulative on existing time Allen is serving outstanding from a previous sentence in July 2020, which included offences of violence and reckless driving where he aimed directly at a pedestrian police officer.

He was also ordered to pay thousands of dollars in compensation to bottle shops and other retailers where the stolen goods were not recovered.