Qld teen sentenced after discovery of shocking videos and lone wolf-style attack instructions in home

A young Queensland teenager who became a “member” of Islamic State has been sentenced after the discovery of abhorrent footage including of beheadings and instructions on how to conduct a lone wolf-style attack in his possession.

File: two soldiers hold a captured Islamic State flag.

A young Aussie teenager who became a “member” of Islamic State will have to undergo deradicalisation as part of the 18-month probation order he was sentenced to in Brisbane’s Childrens Court.

While never formally a member, the then 16-year-old was charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, namely Islamic State, after a police raid located a written pledge of allegiance to its leader, a selfie of an IS related salute and instructions on how to conduct a lone wolf-style attack.

Authorities raided his Queensland home in October last year and found a number of electronic devices found to contain terrorist propaganda, abhorrent footage including of beheadings and instructional videos from the Islamic State as to the most effective way to use knives to conduct a terrorist attack, the court heard.

Commonwealth prosecutor Patrick Wilson said the youth, who can’t be identified, encouraged others to commit terrorist attacks.

“That is self evidently extremely concerning and increases the risk posed by others who are capable of doing the acts and susceptible to encouragement of this type,” he said.

“The very idea of a terrorist offence committed with a knife or other weapon is an abhorrent one to the community at large.”

The youth joined a chat group on the encrypted social media app Telegram that was associated with IS and encouraged others to commit terrorism “saying basically do it”.

He researched ways to access weapons and how to communicate with IS members, however there was no suggestion he actually did that, the court heard.

He accessed, possessed and transmitted visual and written materials associated with IS during the offending period.

The offending occurred over a two-and-half-month period when the youth was depressed, not attending school, socially isolated with little activity other than playing computer games and smoking cannabis which caused delusions, the court heard.

The court has heard since being taken into custody more than eight months ago he had denounced Islamic State and stated terrorism “is f****d because they kill babies”.

He told a psychologist he started to look into Islamic State out of curiosity and never intended to commit targeted acts of violence on their behalf.

When first detained a psychologist reported noted he was a high risk of future violence but that risk was now moderate and could be further ameliorated through engagement in counselling, employment and other activities.

The report found there was no indication of imminent or short term risk of enacting violence

Judge Deborah Richards said the child had pleaded guilty very early and a letter he wrote to the court expressed genuine remorse and self-realisation his actions were “a huge mistake”.

“You’ve had a challenging childhood and the period leading up to and during this offending was particularly difficult for you,” she said.

“During this time, you’ve been depressed and at times suicidal without mental health assistance. You do not subscribe to Islamic ideology or religion.

“You were never a formal member of Islamic State.

“It would appear … that the interests of the community are best served in this case by promoting further rehabilitation in the community where the necessary and multifaceted services will be available to you.”

He was sentenced to 18 months probation with conditions including drug and alcohol counselling, drug testing, regular mental health counselling by a psychologist experienced in dealing with teens radicalised in hate groups, participation in a deradicalisation program.

He must not access or search on the internet for any content relating to Islamic State or any terrorist organisation or any violent or gore which the court heard he had become desensitised to prior to his offending.

He must also provide authorities access to his electronic devices.

Barrister Jann Taylor, instructed by Cullen lawyers, said her client, who had no previous criminal history, had offered to co-operate with the Australian Federal Police which they had welcomed.

The court heard the Commonwealth Attorney-General may apply for a control order over the youth.

Judge Richards declined to record a conviction.

“You have not been in trouble before and in my view you had not made steps to actually act on the membership that you declared yourself to be a member of,” she said.

The boy’s mother speaking directly to Judge Richards said her son was “a very soft-hearted person”.

“Well the facts may not agree with you there,” Judge Richards said.

The mother said the boy had been through a very traumatic experience over the past few years.

“My belief as to what has happened is when you take somebody’s power away from them they will search for that power ... in any way possible,” she said.

“And I believe that he needed to regain power that had been trampled on and removed from him in the only way he knew how to.”

Judge Richards said an important part of ensuring he didn’t fail in rehabilitation was not making excuses.

“Because what he did was very, very wrong,” she said.

The mother said she did not make excuses.

“There was no one more horrified than myself … but I do acknowledge every single angle that was buoying upon him to bring us to that point,” she said.

The boy’s barrister Jann Taylor said his understanding of Islamic State at the time had been “superficial”.

“He has articulated sincere regret for his actions, significant showing of remorse. At conference he was quite visibly upset for the fact he had exposed his younger brother to some of the material,” she said.

“Very dysfunctional family relationships, significant exposure to domestic violence, separation from his mother, social isolation, persistent depressive disorder and delusional content due to cannabis abuse all contribute to his offending.”

Since the offending he had formed a meaningful relationship with his mother, gained some life skills and improved his reading from the level of a 10-year-old to a 14-year-old, she said.