Boy, 15, with 143 offence history sentenced for armed robbery in Cairns park

A 15-year-old with an 18 page juvenile history encompassing 143 charges including break ins, assaults and car thefts has been sentenced for an armed robbery in a Cairns park while on bail and probation.

A 15-year-old with an 18-page history including 143 charges of break-ins, assaults and car thefts has been sentenced for an armed robbery while on bail and probation.

The teenager pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted armed robbery in company and one count of armed robbery in company in Queensland Childrens Court.

The court heard the boy, with two others, targeted two women as they walked through a Cairns park mid morning.

Crown Prosecutor Adriana Fernando said the robbery was a “planned and calculated act”.

“The group formed a line and blocked the complainants, not allowing them to pass,” she said.

“The act was brazen and involved personal violence.”

The Cairns Court House building on Sheridan Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

The court heard the attempted robbery involved an unsuccessful attempt to snatch a hand bag from one of the women.

The armed robbery occurred at the same time the boy attempted to snatch the handbag.

One of his co-offenders grabbed the other woman’s bag before the other co-accused presented a knife.

The strap of the bag broke with the children running off with the bag.

Ms Fernando said the offending breached two probation orders and an active bail.

She said the boy was 14 at the time and already had a lengthy juvenile history with several acts of violence which started at just 11 years old.

A 15-year-old with an 18-page history including 143 charges of break-ins, assaults and car thefts has been sentenced for an armed robbery while on bail and probatio. Picture: iStock

“He has 78 property offences, 23 motor vehicle related offences and 18 weapons related offences,” she said.

The court heard he had previously targeted vulnerable members of the community including elderly people, women and younger children — and had a wrap sheet of 143 offences.

He has also been charged with a serious assault of a correctional officer involving spitting, the court heard.

Ms Fernando said the boy showed “disregard” for court orders and continued targeting the community.

The boy’s defence counsel Darin Honchin said the boy “has some more growing to do” but his “maturation should be given some scope”.

“It is far too early to say that he can’t change.”

He submitted he should be given the same penalty as his co-accuseds who each received nine months detention and an immediate conditional release order taking into regard the time already served in custody which the judge would ultimately also settle on.

The boy has spent a total of 153 days in custody including 71 days in remand on the charges being sentenced.

Judge Trevino ordered his immediate release.

The prosecution applied for the boy to be placed on the serious repeat offenders list which was denied with Judge Joshua Trevino citing the “very significant” period the child has spent in custody.

“I am not satisfied there is a high probability of him reoffending,” he said.

Judge Trevino said there were “very powerful mitigating factors” in his past and said he hoped the time spent in detention would be “a handbrake” to his offending.

“You are reaching the very end of the line,” he said.

Originally published as Boy, 15, with 143 offence history sentenced for armed robbery in Cairns park