Toowoomba boy charged with violent carjacking of 85-year-old woman asks for bail

A teenage delinquent who allegedly dragged an elderly woman from her car and took off driving at speeds around 180km/h has requested bail.

A 16-year-old Toowoomba boy accused of carjacking an 85-year-old woman in a shopping centre carpark has applied for bail. Picture: File.

A teenager accused of carjacking an elderly woman in a suburban shopping centre carpark has applied for bail ahead of his upcoming trial.

A 16-year-old Rockville boy accused of hijacking an 85-year-old’s car, leaving her in the dirt, applied for bail before Toowoomba Childrens Court on Tuesday with his lawyer arguing a significant risk of unjust time in detention.

He was charged with ten offences including armed robbery and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, both of which he will stand trial in the Childrens Court of Queensland.

Police allege that on August 19, the boy and another 16-year-old co-accused dragged the elderly woman from her vehicle in the carpark of Wilsonton Shopping Centre and fled in her car.

Prosecution advised the court the boy was observed driving from Toowoomba towards Cherbourg at speeds of around 180km/h.

The elderly woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The boy was subject to three court orders at the time of the alleged offending for previous offences of break and enter and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Prosecution strongly opposed bail, citing a need to protect the community and preserve the safety of the child.

“The (alleged) offending is not isolated and he was able to cover ground quickly to commit offences against the broader community,” the police prosecutor told the court.

Solicitor Charles Lumsden, on behalf of the teen, argued there was a significant risk the boy would serve too much time awaiting trial, already having served 90 days of presentence custody.

“My major concern in relation to this matter is the amount of time the child has been in detention,” he said.

“If the child were in custody, in my respectful submission, it is likely that the period of time would exceed any penalty that might be involved or any actual imprisonment.”

Mr Lumsden said the boy would submit to an electronic monitoring device and strict curfew and reporting conditions to mitigate any risk of reoffending.

Acting magistrate Kay Ryan granted bail with stringent conditions taking into account an expected delay in the higher court.

“This (robbery) is a really terrible, shocking, disgusting thing,” she said.

“It’s serious stuff.

“(However) an indictment is unlikely to be presented to the Childrens Court of Queensland until the second month of the new year.

“You have strong family support and can be monitored with an electronic monitoring device.”

The 16-year-old was also resentenced on previous charges of going armed as to cause fear, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence after failing to comply with a restorative justice conference.

He was reprimanded on the three charges and will appear back in Toowoomba Childrens Court in January on his remaining charges of break and enter, enter premises with intent, unlawful use of motor vehicle, entering premises and commit, and stealing.

Originally published as Toowoomba boy charged with violent carjacking of 85-year-old woman asks for bail