Serial teen offender carjacked Uber driver at Coomera train station to get lift home
An Uber driver was carjacked in dramatic scenes at a Gold Coast train station by a teen who wanted to drive home – even though his mum was coming to get him. FULL DETAILS >>
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A SERIAL teen offender carjacked an Uber driver and ran him down as he tried to foil the crime.
The 16-year-old told police he only stole the vehicle so that he could drive home – even though his mother was coming to get him.
The boy, who cannot be named as he is a juvenile, pleaded guilty in Southport Children’s Court on Tuesday to unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlawful entry of vehicle to commit an indictable offence.
The court was told the teen and a friend carjacked the Uber driver at a Coomera train station on February 27 after he declined to give them a lift.
The driver was pushed and locked out of his car, as the boys jumped in.
In an attempt to stop them, the driver stood in front of the car, but was struck and dragged along the bonnet for 12 metres, before falling to the ground, the court was told.
The boy had arranged for his mother to pick him up, but was under the impression the family car had broken down.
His mother did come to the train station as police were taking a report.
The vehicle was found a short distance away from his house.
The driver was not injured but the court was told he had been impacted by the incident.
The boy began offending at age 12 and was subject to a probation order at the time, which he received just 12 days before the carjacking.
He was on bail for three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, arising from early February, which remain before the court.
The boy had spent 61 days in detention.
Asked by Judge Michael Byrne if he enjoyed his time, the boy replied “no” as he didn’t “have any freedom”.
Judge Byrne sentenced the boy to a year probation and 50 hours of community service. He will also serve out six months of his current probation order.
“The mindset that one can simply steal another’s property with or without violence to suit one’s convenience is very disturbing,” he said.
The court was told the boy, who had a difficult upbringing and was hanging around the wrong crowd, had been looking for a job.
“You know that if you keep committing offences like you have been, you’re going to end up where no one will give you a job,” Judge Byrnes warned.
“If you keep doing it, particularly when you’re an adult, you’re going to go to jail.”
The court was told the boy had written a letter of apology to the driver.
Taking into account the boy’s steps towards rehabilitation, Judge Byrnes did not record a conviction.
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