Teen avoids detention for violent Wilsonton carjacking of elderly woman

A 16-year-old boy involved in the violent carjacking of an elderly woman and subsequent crime spree in her stolen car has been sentenced.

Almost a year after the crime occurred, a teen has fronted Toowoomba court and pleaded guilty to 11 crimes that occurred during the one-night crime spree.

A court was told it took two teens a split second to deviate from their planned walk to a corner shop to committing a violent carjacking and a series of break-ins across the Darling Downs.

A 16-year-old Toowoomba boy who committed the crime spree alongside a group of offenders, was sentenced before the Childrens Court of Queensland in Toowoomba on Monday, July 14.

The court was told the boy’s cousin, who was also a teenager, decided to steal a car while the pair walked to a corner store in Toowoomba in August 2024, because he wanted to leave the Toowoomba region.

Crown prosecutor Abby Kong said the pair first targeted a residence, stealing a watch, however they fled after the homeowner caught them trying to steal a car.

Ms Kong said they then walked to the Wilsonton Shopping Centre about 4pm and carjacked a 85-year-old woman in the carpark.

The elderly woman was thrown from the car, hitting her head on the concrete of the Wilsonton Shopping Centre carpark, the court heard it was fortunate she was not seriously injured.

The court was told the teenager got into the passenger seat of her car, while the co-offender opened the driver’s door and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her from the car.

The elderly woman hit her head as she was thrown to the ground, however she was not seriously injured.

Ms Kong said the teenager then got into the driver’s seat because his cousin couldn’t get the car started.

The woman’s handbag, which contained $300, was in the car.

The pair and other offenders then broke into another Toowoomba home, stealing two cars, before smashing their way into an IGA and a convenience store.

The court was told the 16-year-old boy’s mother received a call that night saying her son was involved in the crimes.

She then called the police before setting out and driving all night until she found her son, brought him home, and again called the police to let them know where he was.

The next day the teenager, whose criminal history contained no previous acts of violence, was remanded in custody for 90 days before he was released on parole with a monitoring device.

Almost a year after the crime occurred, the teen fronted Toowoomba court and pleaded guilty to 11 crimes that occurred during the one-night crime spree.

Judge Benedict Power KC commended and thanked the boy’s mother for her actions that night, noting it was unusual for juvenile offenders to come before the courts with supportive and encouraging parents.

Judge Power noted the teenager would be sentenced under the old sentencing regime, and warned the teenager that if he came before the courts again for similar offending he would find himself in detention.

He said the teenager was performing very well with his strict bail conditions and had completed a number of programs, some of which were behavioral in nature.

The court was told the teenager pleaded guilty to 11 charges in May, which included robbery with violence in company, unlawful use, stealing, and break and enter.

He was sentenced to an 18-month probation order.

The court was also told the co-offender was sentenced to a longer probation order before the Toowoomba District Court earlier in 2025.

Originally published as Teen avoids detention for violent Wilsonton carjacking of elderly woman