Gatton teen sentenced for violent car robbery at Springfield centre
A 19-year-old father has avoided jail time despite driving at a woman during a violent carjacking at a major shopping centre near Brisbane.
A Gatton teenager has offered an apology to the woman he drove at as he stole her car.
The 19-year-old Gatton boy pleaded guilty before the Childrens Court of Queensland in Toowoomba on December 2 to violent robbery in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company.
Due to his age, the boy was sentenced as an adult; however, committed the crimes as a child.
The court was told the 19-year-old, then 17, an 18-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy entered Orion Springfield Central shopping centre, south of Brisbane, on April 20, 2024.
The trio approached a 51-year-old woman as she packed groceries into her car.
The boy demanded her keys, jumping into the driver’s seat while the women struggled to open the car door.
While inside the car he pushed the door into his victim’s body, hitting her wrist and causing pain.
The woman then moved in front of the vehicle and yelled for help but, before anyone could assist, the 19-year-old carjacker drove at her, forcing her to jump for safety.
The three teenagers fled in their victim’s car with the whole incident taking place in full view of CCTV cameras.
In the car were the victim’s belongings including a handbag, around $100 in cash, money cards and her mobile phone.
Her phone was soon after recovered, strewn on a road nearby the shopping centre while her car was found four days later, abandoned in NSW border town Boggabilla.
All other items were missing from the vehicle.
Evading arrest for almost six months, the boy was eventually located in NSW and extradited back to Queensland where he spent one night in custody before being granted bail.
The court was told the boy had a very limited history of offending, with no recorded convictions.
Defence barrister Wesley Seewald said the boy was extremely remorseful, particularly after reading the victim’s impact statement.
“He does instruct me to offer his apology to her through the court this morning,” Mr Seewald said.
“We do not cavil with the fact that this would have been a frightening experience for the complainant.”
The court was told the boy had recently obtained qualifications to work in construction and was actively seeking work in order to support his new child.
Judge Deborah Richards said the boy was now “on the right track” but stressed a need for him to stay away from offending.
“This must have been terrifying for this woman and aside from the fact that she lost a lot of her stuff … she was 51 years old,” she said.
“You wouldn’t like something like that happening to your mum.
“You've got plans to get a job, you’ve got a little baby to look after … you’ve got responsibilities now.”
The boy was ordered to serve 18 months probation with no recorded convictions.
As the offence occurred in early 2024, newly introduced Adult Crime Adult Time laws did not apply.
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Originally published as Gatton teen sentenced for violent car robbery at Springfield centre
