Pub robber gets more time in jail

A young man who robbed a Glenorchy hotel has been sentenced to spend more time in jail.

Jesse Lee Fletcher-Jones, 19, pleaded guilty to the September 25 armed robbery of the Elwick Hotel where he had held it up armed rifle.

Jones had his prison sentence increased to take into account associated crimes, including motor vehicle stealing and possessing a gun without a licence.

Fletcher-Jones also faced three other charges that would normally be dealt with in the Magistrates Court.

However, Supreme Court judge Shane Marshall dealt with them instead.

The Hobart court heard Fletcher-Jones had gone about his crime after stealing a Subaru Impreza station wagon during the evening of September 24.

The court heard he drove to a service station in Lindisfarne at 2.30am on September 25, filled a container with $29 worth of fuel, and drove off without paying.

And then just before 3am, Fletcher-Jones drove the Impreza to the Elwick Hotel and as a  patron was leaving, the court hear Jones put his rifle in the open door to prevent it from locking.

Acting Justice Marshall said there were two employees and three patrons still inside the hotel at the time.

Fletcher-Jones approached the gaming counter, pointed a gun at the duty manager’s face and demanded money and started a countdown while the manager started filling a calico bag with money.

The court heard he then fired a shot in the direction of the counter and told another staff member to “hurry up” with the money.

Jones left the hotel holding the bag, which contained about $2500.

Acting Justice Marshall sentenced Fletcher-Jones to three years’ jail with a non-parole period of two years in April but the sentence was increased after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence on the ground that it did not take into account the motor vehicle stealing, making off without payment, and possessing a gun without a licence charges.