Charlie Want pleads guilty to trying to abduct child from Baringa

A former Sunshine Coast construction worker became a parent’s worst nightmare after he grabbed a young girl by the arm and tried to abduct her from a suburban street.

Charlie Phillip Want faced the Maroochydore District Court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

A former Coolum High School student has been jailed for trying to abduct a young girl before saying “I wish I could get a kid”.

Charlie Phillip Want, 25, gave himself up to police three days following the disturbing incident where he grabbed the arm of a young girl and tried to take her to a park in Baringa on March 18, 2023.

The former construction worker was remanded in custody for 359 days following his arrest before pleading guilty to attempted child stealing and failing to comply with reporting obligations in the Maroochydore District Court on Thursday.

The court was told the 25-year-old knew the young girl for a week through a “loose acquaintance” due to him and the mother living on the same street at the time.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said the girl and her friend were walking along the street when they were approached by Want who asked if she wanted to go to the park.

The facts state the victim was reluctant before he grabbed her arm and pulled her down the street while the young girl told him to stop.

Want was heard saying “I wish I could get a kid”, the court was told.

Luckily a concerned neighbour saw what was happening and yelled out to Want, who fled the scene.

Want surrendered himself to police three days later and has been in custody ever since.

Charlie Phillip Want in 2017. Picture: Facebook

The prosecutor said his history included sexualised behaviour of approaching and groping young women in public, including the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at a restaurant in 2020.

Mr Stark said Want came to order takeaway from the teen when he came up behind her and placed his hand under her dress.

Some of his other convictions included groping a 19-year-old woman in 2017 who was jogging near the beach and assaulting another woman on a train in 2020.

Defence barrister James Feely said Want spent a lengthy time in custody and said jail wasn’t a “place he likes to be”.

Mr Feely said the 25-year-old gained insight into his conduct and had received mental health treatment in custody.

Want was also keen to stop drinking and using marijuana upon his release, where he hoped to live in Clayfield in Brisbane.

Want’s lawyer said there were no overt sexual actions and queried whether his comment during the attempted abduction was sexual but rather parental or simply a “bizarre” comment.

Judge Glen Cash said the victim was “effectively a stranger” to him and believed Want was sexually motivated but was not sentencing him for a sexual offence.

Want was jailed for three years but will be released on parole on June 21.