Teen girl’s year-long offending described as ‘cowardly’ and having a ‘gang-type mentality’

A teenager who went on a year-long crime spree across the Gold Coast, including spitting on a bus driver, was described as “cowardly” and having a “gang-type mentality”.

A TEENAGER who went on a year-long crime spree across the Gold Coast, including spitting on a bus driver, was described as “cowardly” and having a “gang-type mentality”.

The 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to eight charges including robbery, assault and unlawful entry of a vehicle.

Her appearance was just nine days before she turns 18.

During the sentencing Judge Katherine McGinness warned the girl the consequences would be more serious if she offended again in nine days when she legally becomes an adult.

“You don’t want to end up in adult prison. It’s awful,” she said.

Judge McGinness said all the offending was done in a group.

“It shows gang-type mentality and it’s cowardly because you don’t chose to do it yourself,” she said.

The incidents took place between January last year and January this year when the girl was aged 16 to 17.

The girl, with two others, assaulted a woman when they stole her handbag about 11pm on January 30, 2019. She grabbed the woman by the hair and kicked her on the ground.

In August, they damaged a man’s car when they tried to steal it.

The girl then approached a couple in Surfers Paradise about 8.30pm on September 28 last year and beat the woman trying to steal from her.

In October last year the girl spat at a bus driver.

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Then on January 5 this year the girl and six others attacked another girl.

Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced her to 12 months in detention with a conditional release.

The girl had spent 53 days in detention in January this year.

Defence barrister James McNab said the girl had started a course in construction and was seeking help for drug abuse.