Teen jailed after robbing, threatening to kill 46-year-old

A North Queensland teen criminal has been jailed after he repeatedly punched a man in the head before stealing cash from his wallet.

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A TOWNSVILLE teenager has been jailed after he repeatedly punched a man in the head while on parole.

Richard Nelson, 19, pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery in company in the Townsville District Court on Friday.

Chief Judge Brian Devereaux said Nelson was aged 18 when he punched a 46-year-old man on August 7 last year with closed fists in the back and front of his head causing significant injuries.

Judge Devereaux held up pictures of the man’s injuries and asked Nelson if he had seen them.

“You should see them,” he said.

The court was told Nelson and the victim were known to each other for a month before the incident occurred and were riding bicycles together on the day.

When the man Nelson hit fell to the ground, the teen pulled his wallet out of his pants and took $110 cash from inside and rode away.

Crown Prosecutor Monique Sheppard said the 46-year-old told Nelson “we are supposed to be mates, and this is how you treat me”.

Ms Sheppard said Nelson told the man he needed money.

When the man told Nelson he would report him to police Nelson replied “if you do, you’re dead,” Ms Sheppard said.

Nelson’s barrister Dane Marley said his client had suffered a troubled upbringing and suffered from several mental health conditions.

In sentencing, Judge Devereaux told Nelson “if you keep acting like this, you’ll spend your life in jail”.

“This is a terrible situation for someone so young,” he said.

Nelson was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment.

He will be eligible for parole on August 12.

Originally published as Teen jailed after robbing, threatening to kill 46-year-old