Rory Shipton-Gaitor: Liffey man charged with 43 offences

A young Tasmanian man remanded in pre-sentence custody on dozens of charges used the court’s videolink system to yell out, “Love you,” to a woman in court before the feed was cut.

A young northern Tasmanian man has appeared in court via videolink on 43 charges, only 12 of which his lawyer was able to enter pleas on due to the volume of matters.

Liffey man Rory Mitchell Shipton-Gaitor, 21, who reportedly previously maintained an address at Mayfield, appeared in Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He is charged with dozens of offences, which police allege were committed mostly between August last year and June.

They included, but were not limited to, stealing, computer-related fraud, evading police, reckless driving, burglary, common assault, possessing controlled plants and drink-driving.

Defence lawyer Fran McCracken entered pleas in regards to about a quarter of Shipton-Gaitor’s alleged offending, but not on the most serious charges of burglary and common assault.

Shipton-Gaitor pleaded not guilty to stealing $100 worth of groceries from Woolworths George Town, possessing a glass smoking device and evading police on May 14.

He also pleaded not guilty to breaching bail on June 3.

He did, however, plead guilty to possessing psilocybin (aka mushrooms), driving a motorbike while exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit and unlicensed, and driving unlicensed, unregistered, with no premium cover and without wearing a helmet.

All offences occurred at George Town on May 14.

Shipton-Gaitor also pleaded guilty to an additional offence.

Ms McCracken told the court she was “in the process of taking instructions” regarding all of Shipton-Gaitor’s other charges.

“I’ve only made it this far, so far,” she said.

“He is in custody across all these matters.”

At one point, Mr Shipton-Gaitor shouted, “Love you,” to a woman seated in the back of the court to whom Magistrate Ken Stanton referred to.

All matters were adjourned to September 1.