Teenage girl already on probation for separate crimes sentenced to probation again over robberies

A 16-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to two robberies in which she brazenly attacked young girls in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, stealing their phones and viciously beating and stomping on them when they protested.

A teenage girl has pleaded guilty to two terrifying robberies in which she brazenly attacked young girls in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, stealing their phones and viciously beating and stomping on them when they protested.

The 16-year-old repeat offender already had more than 40 entries on her criminal history when she “set up” the two victims, aged 14 and 18, days apart in April last year.

One of the bashings occurred on the same day the girl had faced court over a previous robbery.

The Children’s Court of Queensland on Thursday heard on both occasions the teenager walked up to the strangers in the middle of the busy mall and claimed to need help, asking to borrow their phones.

But when they agreed to help her and handed over their phones, she refused to give it back and became violent when they protested.

A 16-year-old girl pleaded guilty to two robberies in the Children’s Court of Queensland in Brisbane on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

Crown Prosecutor Sarah McCray said on April 16, 2022, the defendant asked a 14-year-old girl if she could use her phone but stole it when she handed it over.

“The defendant put the complainant in a headlock, grabbed her throat with her hands, and ended up dragging her through the Queen Street Mall, punched and choked her, to get the Apple ID password to her phone,” Ms McCray said.

“Bystanders intervened and the defendant and friends she was with told the complainant not to call the police otherwise they would come after her and harm her.”

Days later, she and a different 14-year-old girl, who also faced court in Brisbane on Thursday, robbed a second person, an 18-year-old woman who had been shopping with her mother and siblings in the mall.

When the 18-year-old agreed to let them use her phone, the 16-year-old defendant – who had faced court the same day for other separate violent offending – removed the victim’s SIM card and put her own in the phone before both defendants attacked.

Bystanders intervened and despite the bashing, the complainant offered to order an Uber for her attackers.

Two teenagers appeared in a Brisbane court on Thursday in connection to two violent daylight robberies in the Queen Street Mall in April, 2022. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms McCray said the 16-year-old told the girl: “I was going to steal your phone but since you’re so nice I won’t”.

“That was then when the defendants physically attacked the complainant again, pulling her to the ground, stomping on her and punching her repeatedly and bystanders intervened and broke up the assault,” Ms McCray said.

The pair made off with the phone and the victim was left with injuries including a swollen face, bloodied nose and a bald patch where her hair was ripped from her head.

The court heard the older of the two defendants had an appalling criminal history with 42 entries including for robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm and trespassing.

Judge Katherine McGinness described the attack on good Samaritans offering help as “terrible” and asked the 16-year-old why she committed the crimes.

The girl claimed she was “blind drunk” at the time.

“It’s not an excuse at all,” Judge McGinness said.

The 16-year-old mum-of-one, who was already on probation for a prior offence, was sentenced to 15 months of probation. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“You’ve got to stop it because otherwise if you were being sentenced for this in the adult court you’d probably be going into the adult jail for six years.

“You’re being sentenced as a child now but if you don’t do something about this no one is going to give you any sympathy.”

The 16-year-old, who has been on a probation order since December for prior offending, was sentenced to 15 months’ probation and no conviction was recorded.

The court heard the teenage mum, who has a child, also risked being deported to New Zealand if she continued to offend as an adult.

Her 14-year-old co-offender, a promising young Rugby player who had no criminal history and faced court for the first time, was ordered to undertake Restorative Justice conferencing with a member of the community.

“I really hope this is the last time you’re here,” Judge McGinness said.