Benjamin Phikhohpoom’s mother: ‘We are so angry that our family has had to go through this’

The mum of a Glen Eira schoolboy has slammed a deal where a 15-year-old involved in her son’s horror abduction had his most serious charges dropped.

Glen Eira College student Benjamin Phikhohpoom was abducted while walking home from school in September 2023. Picture: David Caird

A 15-year-old involved in the horror abduction of a schoolboy – leaving him with life-­altering injuries – has struck a deal to have his most serious charges dropped, as his lawyer pushed for him to be spared jail.

The family of Glen Eira College student Benjamin Phikhohpoom – who suffered permanent brain damage and spent a week in a coma after a gang of youths forced him into a stolen Volkswagen – have slammed the deal, saying their son “did not deserve this”.

Benjamin was dragged 150m while hanging from the car door after being grabbed while he walked home from the Glen Huntly school in September last year.

Details of the incident were aired in a children’s court on Thursday, including that the offenders – two boys and a girl – were wielding machetes and robbing other students.

The abduction left Benjamin with life-­altering injuries. Picture: 10 news

One of the boys, aged 15, who spent just 43 days in custody before being bailed last October, on Thursday pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including armed robbery, theft and possessing a controlled weapon.

But the most serious offences relating to Benjamin, including intentionally causing serious injury and reckless conduct, were dropped in a plea deal with prosecutors.

“We have had some justice today as a family, but we are still very sad about (the) outcome,” Benjamin’s mother Wannisa Srichan said.

“What this boy did was very serious and it has affected my son so much.

“I listened to the court case today and it was very hard.”

She said the whole ordeal had been “extremely emotional” for her family.

“I just want it to be over, it’s just so difficult. My son is still affected by this, he is struggling. We are listening to so many court cases lately, it’s very hard for us.

“It’s been almost 10 months and we are so angry that our family has had to go through this, Benjamin did not deserve this.”

Benjamin with his parents Wannisa Srichan and Kirati Phikhohpoom. Picture: David Caird

A children’s court magistrate said he would consider victim impact sentences before handing down his sentence.

“I’m taking the charges very seriously,” he said.

“It is absolutely outrageous, it’s frightening, it’s scary, it’s something the community don’t want to put up with.

“If (the public) were hearing this today … they would be quite simply saying as a magistrate: ‘Why aren’t you locking him up?’”

Ms Srichan said she continued to call for tougher bail laws for youth offenders.

“There must be stronger laws because it’s the victims that have to live with this for the rest of their lives.”

The offenders who abducted Benjamin were wielding machetes and robbing other students. Picture: David Caird

But a lawyer for the boy said he should be spared jail, claiming he had turned his life around. She said the boy was living in residential care at the time of the offending but had since returned to live with his father who was in court to support him.

“He’s now learnt first-hand getting involved in offending can quickly go beyond anything that was envisioned,” she said.

“He’s really demonstrated a clear commitment to making better decisions for himself.”

A youth justice advocate also pushed for him to be handed a community sentence.

The court heard a woman and her daughter were reclined in their seats while they were parked outside a Prahran primary school about 2.50pm on September 4 when the trio pulled up beside them and tried opening the doors. They sped off when they realised the occupants were still inside.

About 35 minutes later, the youths pulled up on a teenager in Glen Iris asking if they had a phone, before slapping their victim when they said no.

Seven minutes later, they robbed two teenagers of their phones and headphones.

“Give us your f--king phone,” one of the youths said, while another brandished a machete.

A high school student witnessed the robbery and was set upon next, with one of the boys flashing the blade as they demanded they hand over their phone.

“What phone do you have c--t?” one of them yelled, as their victim turned and fled.

Benjamin was walking home from school with a friend, when the two boys – one armed with a boxcutter – jumped out of the stolen car and confronted the pair.

One of the boys slapped Benjamin’s friend, before Benjamin was punched and kicked. Benjamin was forced into the passenger seat of the car, which was being driven by the girl, before the vehicle sped off while he was hanging from the door.

The court heard he was forced to run so his legs wouldn’t drag but the vehicle reached speeds of up to 70km/h before he was flung onto the ground.

The offenders fled, running a red light.

Members of the public rushed to Benjamin, who was vomiting blood and bleeding from the head and mouth.

He suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

Benjamin was placed in a coma for a week and spent months in hospital.

The court heard he now has permanent brain damage, suffers double vision and amnesia and requires a hearing aid.

The offender in court was also involved in a separate incident a month earlier, where he filmed as his friends forced a teenage girl to strip to her underwear as they robbed her of her jewellery and clothing.

The boy will return to court next month.