Drug-affected Toowoomba teen in court for allegedly cutting worker with knife in New Year’s Day robbery
A drug-affected Toowoomba teen allegedly cut a worker with a knife during a News Year’s Day tobacco shop robbery.
Police & Courts
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A drug-affected Toowoomba teen allegedly cut a worker with a knife during a News Year’s Day tobacco shop robbery.
The boy, 16, appeared over video link at Ipswich Magistrate’s Court on Friday for a bail application following his arrest on Wednesday.
The court heard it alleged the boy entered a tobacconist at 386 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, around 6.20pm on New Year’s Day.
Armed with a knife, the boy allegedly told a store worker “give me everything”.
The court heard the worker and the boy allegedly became involved in a “violent struggle” over the knife – with both receiving injuries in the process.
The store worker received a cut to the head from the knife, but was not seriously injured, the court was told.
It’s alleged the boy took some minor items from the counter and fled, before changing his clothes.
The court heard police located him in the Toowoomba CBD shortly after and observed him to be drug-affected.
The boy was then arrested and charged with one count of armed robbery.
The court was told the boy had been under threat that he would be “bashed” if he did not commit the robbery.
Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said the boy had been homeless for some months after his mother kicked him out for smoking cannabis.
He said the boy had been a “good kid” until he stopped taking his ADHD medication and started using illegal drugs.
The court heard the boy had “graduated” to using methamphetamine while couch surfing and falling in with a “bad crowd” over the past six months.
Mr Skuse said the boy was willing to move back in with his mother and comply with a medical treatment plan if granted bail.
The court heard the boy had no relevant criminal history, but had recently received a restorative justice order for indecent treatment and invasion of privacy offences.
Acting magistrate Rob Turra accepted it was unlikely the boy would receive a detention sentence for his offending, and that there would be some significant delay before his matter could be finalised.
He said the boy’s days in detention following his arrest would have been a “wake up call”.
Mr Turra granted the boy bail under conditions that he reside with his mother in the Toowoomba region, comply with a 24/hr curfew, not consume any alcohol or illegal drugs, and that he attend a medical practitioner and comply with any advice regarding medication.
The matter was adjourned to February 27 at Toowoomba Children’s Court.
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