NewsBite

Whittlesea Public Gardens: Teens ambushed, beaten, robbed

Two teens who organised to meet up to sell iPhones in a Whittlesea park were viciously attacked by a group of seven youths, who left one of the victims unconscious after beating with him with a tree branch.

The victims were punched and kicked on the ground. Generic picture
The victims were punched and kicked on the ground. Generic picture

Two teenagers were ambushed, bashed and robbed by seven other teenagers in a Whittlesea park after they organised to sell iPhones to one of the boys.

One of the two victims, aged 17 and 18, lost consciousness after he was beaten with a tree branch and the pair were stripped of jewellery and clothing, a magistrate’s court has heard.

The 16-year-old who organised the meet up admitted to the charges before the court on Tuesday, June 16, after police searched his home and found some of the stolen items and an imitation firearm.

The court heard he had used Snapchat to arrange with one of the victims to meet at Whittlesea Public Gardens in Lalor at 6pm on Tuesday, April 27 to buy two iPhones from him.

When the two victims arrived with the phones, the organiser snatched the phones before six other guys appeared from the toilet blocks.

Senior Constable Michael Kaye said one victim was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, where the group continued to assault him while taking his watch and the two gold chains he was wearing off of him.

The court heard the group punched and kicked the other victim to the ground before hitting him with a tree branch.

They also forcibly removed his watch and jewellery, as well as his Kathmandu puffer jacket, which contained his car keys.

The seven offenders ran north through the park, leaving the pair on the ground.

Sen Constable Kaye said police searched the organiser’s home on April 30, finding the phones and jacket, as well as an imitation gun.

The court heard the boy had only been granted bail before the court on April 23 — four days before the attack.

His lawyer conceded the incident was “incredibly serious”, saying her client was influenced by Xanax on the day it occurred.

He was also before the court for six other matters, appearing by video from Parkville Detention Centre.

His lawyer pushed for him to be released on bail for a deferred sentence, with the teenager having already spent more than two months in custody for the range of crimes.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek said he was “grappling” with whether to release the teen.

“What about protection of the community?”

“I’m worried about him reoffending.”

Mr Ballek adjourned the matter for two weeks while a psychological assessment took place.

“I’m just not prepared to release him today,” he said.

“They are very serious offences.”

MORE: DAD FOUND WITH SHOTGUN AND AMMO, AGAIN

DRUNK WOMAN HOLDS UBER DRIVER AGAINST HIS WILL

POLICE BITTEN, SPAT ON, KICKED IN BRUTAL ATTACK

serena.seyfort@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/whittlesea-public-gardens-teens-ambushed-beaten-robbed/news-story/c9d13e07b2c305118442de7fe1daf795