Boy, 14, admits in Toowoomba court to roles in violent CBD robbery and second separate attempted robbery

With his mother sobbing in the public gallery, a teenager pleaded guilty in a Toowoomba court to roles in two separate violent CBD offences across the city.

A mother sat in tears as a Toowoomba court was told how her 14-year-old son had been involved in two violent robbery attacks in the city’s CBD.

The boy, who turned 15 in detention, appeared before the Children’s Court of Queensland via video link from the detention centre on one count of armed robbery and one of attempted robbery.

In the first about 10pm, December 18, 2022, the teenager was with a 12-year-old boy and two other boys at the Hooper Centre when they set upon a 22-year-old man walking through the centre, CCTV footage of which was shown to the court.

Though the then 14-year-old didn’t take part in the actual violence, he stood nearby and watched as the victim was hit and chased.

The group of teenagers attacked the man in the Hooper Centre car park the court heard.

As he ran away, the victim dropped his mobile phone which was picked up by the one of the group who then set upon the man after he was knocked to the ground and kicked and punched.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court the group ran off but the victim had chased and eventually caught up with them, persuading them to return his phone for which he had to hand over $150.

In the second incident about 10.30pm, January 31, the teenager and the same 12-year-old, armed with stolen knives, had been in Toowoomba’s CBD when a woman parked her car before crossing Ruthven St to use the Commonwealth Bank ATM.

When she returned to the car, the 12-year-old demanded the keys to her car but she refused, Ms Friedewald said.

The 14-year-old defendant then approached the woman but, fortunately, another car pulled up and the two teenagers ran off, she said.

The woman got into her car and called triple-0 and the defendant was arrested some days later.

The lad had spent the ensuing 62 days in detention before pleading guilty to the offences.

Ms Friedewald said the first victim had since passed away but the second victim had provided a victim impact statement in which she told of the ongoing anxiety she felt from the experience.

The boy’s barrister Nathan Edridge told the court the time in detention had given his client time to consider his behaviour.

He said the boy said he was sorry the woman was traumatised and no longer wanted to hang around with those boys he had been running with, though it would be difficult as his older brother had been getting into trouble as well.

Judge Leanne Clare SC

Asked by Judge Leanne Clare SC if she wanted to say anything, the boy’s mother from the public gallery said she didn’t know what had prompted her younger son to start offending in recent months but he had made a positive change since being in detention.

“I just hope he’s realised this is not a way of life,” she said.

“I hope things can turn around, he’s a good person and we’ve always been close.”

The boy’s mother said she had no problem calling police if her sons were doing the wrong thing but she was willing to give the 15-year-old another chance.

“If he doesn’t do the right thing, I’m done, I can’t keep going, it’s affecting everything,” she said.

Taking into account the 62 days spent in detention, Judge Clare placed the teenager on 14 months probation and ordered the convictions not be recorded.

Originally published as Boy, 14, admits in Toowoomba court to roles in violent CBD robbery and second separate attempted robbery