Dominique Patrick Alexanda Hill pleads guilty to assault causing bodily harm, stealing, carrying a knife in public

A court has heard the victim in one of a spate of offences committed by a 20-year-old was a vulnerable person.

A man has been ordered to pay restitution after stealing a gold chain.

A man who stole a gold chain in a robbery has been ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s parents, who had purchased the chain as a gift.

The family sought more money than they originally paid for the chain some years ago, arguing that its value would have increased.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull this week told Ipswich Magistrates Court Dominique Hill had relevant criminal history, and there were “alarming” levels of violence involved in his latest offences.

Dominique Patrick Alexanda Hill, 20, from Ellen Grove, pleaded guilty to charges including assault causing bodily harm; stealing; forcible entry; two counts of possessing a knife in public; three counts of being in possession of dangerous drugs; possession of drug utensils; possession of tainted property; two counts of obstructing police; and numerous breaches of bail.

“Charge seven relates to (Hill) stealing a necklace from around the neck of the complainant. It was 22 grams, 60cm long, and nine carat gold,” Sgt Turnbull said.

“I’m told it was purchased for him (the victim) for $600 and his parents say it would now be worth $2000-3000.”

Defence lawyer Dylan Hans produced medical evidence for Hill, saying mental health and intellectual impairment were features to be considered.

The court heard he was on a disability support pension.

“He receives support and services through NDIS funding,” Mr Hans said.

Mr Hans said the most serious was the assault on the police officer on August 31 last year and it followed an appalling course of conduct.

“It is also unusual in that there was no deliberate striking by Mr Hill. He engaged in a struggle on his own volition and was injured in the course of that struggle,” he said.

“It is open to impose restitution. It (the gold chain) was purchased in 2009 for $600. There has been no jeweller evaluation.”

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said the offender was young at 20 and the charges were mostly low-level street offences but still serious because his actions had an impact on other people.

She said Hill had spent eight days in the police watch-house for failing to appear at court which would be an eye opening experience for him as he had never been in custody before.

Ms Scoines noted that Hill took the chain off a vulnerable person.

The magistrate shed some light on the police facts, saying that in another incident at a hotel Hill assaulted a manager after grabbing him in a struggle and the man’s hands got tangled in a door.

“You were there causing an unnecessary disturbance,” she said.

Ms Scoines warned Hill that going out in the community with a knife cannot be to defend himself as it would make him more vulnerable in circumstances where things got out of control.

She noted he had completed 40 hours of unpaid community service work in January but then went on to reoffend.

She placed Hill on a 14-month supervised probation order and ordered that he pay $800 restitution for the stolen gold chain.

No conviction was recorded.