Teen faces court for death threat to Pizza Hut delivery man

A southeast Queensland court has heard how a 14-year-old boy armed with a metal pole robbed an innocent pizza delivery driver and threatened to kill him.

A 14-year-old threatened to kill a Pizza Hut delivery driver, a court has heard. (Generic photo of a Pizza Hut delivery car)

An Ipswich court has heard how a teenager armed with a metal pole robbed an innocent pizza delivery driver and threatened to kill him.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared at the Ipswich Children’s Court on June 21 after he was charged with armed robbery and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The court heard that he confronted a Pizza Hut delivery driver when he returned to his car on January 29 this year.

He armed himself with a metal pole and made a threat to kill the driver, the court heard.

After the driver handed him the keys to the vehicle he made a second threat before driving off.

The court was told that the boy gave the driver back his mobile phone.

He also asked if he needed anything else from the vehicle after the driver said he had a medical condition.

The court heard the boy told his lawyer he was hesitant about being released from detention as it provided him with the support and stability that had been lacking from his life.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said the two offences were very serious.

“You robbed a pizza delivery driver,” he said.

“There are reasons why 14-year-olds weren’t allowed to drive vehicles.

“If you steal a vehicle and drive which ends up being damaged, it’s a highly dangerous thing.

“No matter how you might think about your skills, you don’t have the skills to drive a vehicle.’’

Judge Horneman-Wren said the boy’s attitude was that because the wider community did not care about him, he did not care about it.

“That might be fair enough for a 14-year-old kid who has been through everything, but I want to tell you that the community actually does care about you,’’ he said.

“There’s no one here in this room who wants to see you just go about committing crimes and going back into detention and later in prison.

“Everyone wants you to actually have the best life that you can have.”

The boy was found guilty after a trial in May.

Judge Horneman-Wren sentenced the boy to probation for 12 months.