Fourteen-year-old girl with history of stealing and violent robberies pleads guilty to armed robbery and attempted robbery with violence

A young girl with as many pages to her criminal history as her 14 years of life has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted robbery with violence, and armed robbery in company over a daylight bag-snatch committed with friends.

The exterior of the Cairns Courthouse.

A young girl with as many pages to her criminal history as her 14 years of life has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted robbery with violence, and armed robbery in company over a daylight bag-snatch committed with friends.

The girl appeared again in Cairns District Court this week over the robbery of two women in a Cairns park last year.

The girl pleaded guilty to attempted robbery with violence, and armed robbery – crimes she committed in company with a boy and girl on May 14, 2024.

Crown prosecutor Kellie Mythen said some of the girl’s other recent crimes included the violent robbery of a 17-year-old Italian exchange student on a bus, and the robbery of two young tourists in the city.

In this case, the girl and her friends chased and punched the female tourists and took one of their bags, she told the court.

“She has demonstrated consistent and persistent offending … and there has been an escalation with the knife,” said Ms Mythen.

“She has continued to commit offences, reoffending while on bail on August 10, September 24, November 10, December 8.”

She told the court the present charges related to crimes committed by the girl and a male and female friend – violent bag snatches on two women who were walking through a park in Cairns in the daytime.

When robbing one of the women, the girl produced a small knife and ran off with victim’s broken handbag.

The girl, 14, and two friends broke the strap on a woman’s handbag during the armed robbery in a Cairns park.

Ms Mythen said the girl showed limited understanding of the effects of her crimes and did not appear to be taking opportunities offered for reform.

She said the girl’s criminal history included 32 entries for stealing – mostly food, drinks and deodorant – and noted that the girl had previously been sentenced to probation orders, graffiti removal orders, community service orders and detention.
Defence barrister James Sheridan said the girl had a difficult upbringing but was in a more stable home situation now under the care of a grandparent.

He said she wanted to re-engage with her education and go to high school.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC sentenced the girl to nine months detention with an immediate conditional release order for six months, acknowledging the girl’s guilty plea, the 121 days she spent in custody, the recommendations of youth justice reports around appropriate sentencing options, the girl’s young age, her reoffending, prospects of rehabilitation and her background.

“For someone so young, you have a terrible criminal history,” Judge Trevino said.

“Your offences are serious and took place in a Cairns park in broad daylight.

“You targeted two women walking in the park, blocked their exit and behaved in a menacing way.

“I hope you’ve taken some time to think about what a frightening experience it would have been for them.

“Our community is sick and tired of dealing with this type of behaviour.

“People should be safe to walk in a public park if they want to.”

Originally published as Fourteen-year-old girl with history of stealing and violent robberies pleads guilty to armed robbery and attempted robbery with violence