It has been another busy week for police and the courts across Tasmania, with developments in several serious cases alongside new arrests and sentencings. From a violent alleged home invasion at Coles Bay returning to court, to charges over a series of deliberately lit fires across northern Tasmania, here are some of the major crime and court stories from around the state between 7 and 13 September 2026.
One of the men accused over the violent home invasion and arson at Coles Bay in July has formally pleaded not guilty. Hayden James Morrison, 31, appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court via video link from prison on Monday. Police allege Morrison was one of three men involved in the attack on 76-year-old Grant Whelan on 11 July. Police allege Whelan was tied up and assaulted before firearms and his vehicle were stolen and his house was set on fire. He subsequently spent six days in hospital. Morrison faces charges including aggravated armed robbery, aggravated assault, motor vehicle stealing and arson. He was remanded in custody and is expected to return to court in November. Two other men have also been charged in connection with the alleged attack. The firearms stolen from the property have reportedly not been recovered.
Two men have been charged following the alleged stabbing of an employee at the Spotlight store in Glenorchy. Police allege two men approached the rear of the Howard Road store on Sunday afternoon and stole an item. When an employee approached them, he was allegedly assaulted and suffered a small knife wound. The worker was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment and was later released. A 28-year-old man and a 34-year-old man were subsequently charged with offences including wounding, assault and stealing. The incident has also renewed political discussion about stronger protections for retail workers confronted by violent customers.
A man and woman are facing numerous charges following an alleged series of incidents around Ouse in the Central Highlands. Police were called shortly before 1am on Monday after two people allegedly attempted to enter a business before breaking into a nearby convenience store and stealing cash. A vehicle believed to be connected to the incident was later found crashed into an embankment on the Lyell Highway. Police allege the pair then entered an Ouse property at about 3.15am and attempted to steal an ATV. The resident suffered minor facial injuries during the incident. A 21-year-old Franklin woman and 26-year-old Kingston man were arrested shortly before 4am after police located them walking along Ellendale Road. The charges include attempted aggravated armed robbery, wounding, burglary, stealing, attempted burglary and trespass, along with a number of other alleged offences.
A major police investigation into a series of fires across northern Tasmania has resulted in further charges against a 29-year-old Nile man. Longford Police and the Tasmania Fire Service have been investigating deliberately lit fires between Perth and Ulverstone that occurred between August 2025 and April 2026. The man had previously been charged in relation to three fires and is now facing allegations connected with eight additional fires at locations including Sassafras, Whitemore, Longford, Perth and Breadalbane. One of the most serious incidents was a fire at Breadalbane in April which burned through vegetation beside the Midland Highway, destroyed power poles and caused local power outages. No-one was injured. Police say investigations into other fires in the region are continuing. The accused is due to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on 24 September.
A Launceston man has been sentenced to prison after continuing to access child abuse material while on bail for similar offending. Lee Anthony Jenkins, 50, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material accessed through a carriage service and two breaches of bail. A police search in August 2024 uncovered hundreds of images and videos across five devices. Jenkins was charged and released on bail subject to restrictions on his internet and device use. Police searched his home again in December 2025 and discovered thousands more images and additional videos across six devices. Justice Robert Pearce sentenced Jenkins to two years and nine months’ imprisonment, backdated to December 2025. He is to be released after serving 16 months on a good behaviour bond and will be subject to sex-offender reporting requirements for eight years following his release.
A man convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in a Launceston hotel room has been sentenced to four years in prison. Blake Ellis Jetson, 27, was found guilty by a jury of indecent assault and two counts of rape. The offences occurred in January 2021 after Jetson and two teenage girls went to a room at the Cornwall Hotel following a party. Jetson denied that sexual activity had taken place, but the jury rejected his account. He was sentenced in the Supreme Court on 8 September to four years’ imprisonment, backdated to 21 August. He will become eligible for parole after serving two years and will be placed on the sex offender register for five years following his release.
The former owners of a large Tasmanian labradoodle breeding operation have appeared before the courts facing multiple animal welfare charges. Elizabeth Anne Bartlett and Paul Alan Bartlett have each been charged with 12 offences, including three counts of cruelty to animals. The allegations relate to the treatment of hundreds of dogs at a property at Cleveland in northern Tasmania. Court documents allege approximately 246 dogs were not provided with sufficient nutritional food and that 46 dogs were in emaciated or poor body condition. Other allegations relate to severely matted coats, medical treatment, sleeping conditions and exercise. The charges have not been proven. The case has been adjourned until 8 December.
A north-west Tasmanian man who attempted to escape from police custody inside the Burnie courthouse has been sentenced to prison. Stephen Keith Edwards, 29, pleaded guilty to escape, two counts of assaulting police and a number of unrelated offences. The court heard Edwards had been remanded in custody when he asked to say goodbye to his partner. After the request was refused, he ran from the courtroom and towards the courthouse exit. Police pursued Edwards and eventually restrained him following a struggle during which two officers were struck. Edwards was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, backdated to November 2025.
Details published this week also revealed the scale of a methylamphetamine trafficking operation run from a Burnie property. Tori Rhonda Summers, 30, pleaded guilty to trafficking a controlled substance and related drug offences. Police searching her home in April 2025 found 129.4 grams of methylamphetamine, along with cannabis, cash, GHB, scales and records of drug sales. The Supreme Court heard Summers continued trafficking after the initial police raid and while she was on bail. She received a drug treatment order carrying a 15-month custodial sentence which she will not be required to serve if she successfully completes the rehabilitation program.
Another Supreme Court case reported this week involved a 69-year-old woman who deliberately burned down the home where she had lived for around four decades. Eileen Joyce Davey pleaded guilty to arson over the October 2024 fire at Red Hills, west of Deloraine. The court heard Davey had been required to leave the property following the death of her long-term partner and had previously threatened to burn the house if she could no longer live there. The blaze largely destroyed the property, causing damage valued at approximately $270,000. Davey was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay $270,000 compensation.
Tasmanians can now report a range of non-urgent offences online following the public launch of Tasmania Police’s new Online Crime Reporting portal. The system allows offences including graffiti, property damage, shoplifting and fuel drive-offs to be reported without calling police or attending a station. People can also provide digital evidence such as CCTV footage and receive an incident reference number for insurance or follow-up purposes. The portal is intended for non-urgent matters. Emergencies should still be reported by calling Triple Zero (000).
This week’s stories ranged from major investigations and violent alleged offending to significant sentencing decisions in Tasmania’s courts. Several cases remain before the courts, including the Coles Bay home invasion, northern Tasmania fire investigation and Tasmanian Labradoodles animal welfare case. As always, charges and allegations remain unproven unless and until determined by a court.
True Crime Tasmania follows crime, policing and court stories from around the state. Information in this weekly update is drawn from publicly available police statements, court reporting and news reports. Where matters remain before the courts, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.