Bellevue Hill stabbing victim Hugo Ball sentenced for robbing elderly lady of $400

A man stabbed in the back by his own mother at their Sydney mansion went on to commit a ‘low’ act after falling into a self-destructive cycle.

A man infamously stabbed in the back by his own mother at their mansion in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is still coming to terms with the incident that sent him on a path of escalating drug use, a court has heard.

Hugo Ball was in the grips of this self-destructive cycle when he stole $400 from an old lady withdrawing the cash from an ATM at Bondi Junction in May this year.

Ball was sentenced for the opportunistic robbery at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, where a magistrate decided not to jail the 23-year-old, saying he was making good progress in turning his life around.

Scots College old boy Hugo Ball has escaped jail for a robbery at Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: Joel Carrett / NCA NewsWire

The graduate of elite private school Scots College was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to an offence of stealing less than $2000 from a person outside a Westpac branch at Westfield Bondi Junction.

The bond includes conditions that Ball, who lives at his father’s multimillion-dollar Paddington home, be supervised throughout and abstain from taking illegal drugs for six months.

Wearing a dark suit and black Nike sneakers, the court heard he was adamant there was no excuse for his crime and he was worried his grandmothers would think less of him for targeting an elderly lady.

The court heard he felt “lost” at the time and admitted it was a “low thing to do”.

Hugo Ball was stabbed at his Bellevue Hill home last year.

His mum Samantha Palmer has pleaded guilty to reckless wounding. Picture: Supplied

Ball lost two and a half litres of blood and nearly died when his mum Samantha Palmer plunged a butcher’s knife into him several times in November. Palmer has since pleaded guilty to one count of reckless wounding.

Ball’s lawyer Alicia Catron told the court her client was already dealing with drug issues at the time of the Bellevue Hill attack but his habit was exacerbated by the trauma.

By the time of the robbery on May 17 he was using “ice” multiple times per day to the point he does not fully remember what happened.

“That (stabbing) incident has really sent him tailing down this road of increased drug use, anxiety, depression and PTSD, all of which he has been diagnosed with,” she said.

“Those emotions regarding that incident are still really raw and really unprocessed.”

Hugo Ball arrives at Waverley Court with his lawyer Alicia Catron. Picture: Joel Carrett / NCA NewsWire

Ms Catron said since his arrest on May 25, Ball had thrown himself into rehabilitation, including a 28-day stay at a clinic on the north shore, and had only experienced one “break” in his sobriety since.

“He has expressed genuine remorse and contrition for his actions and a sense of shame for his actions,” she said.

The court heard he was loitering behind a 71-year-old woman and snatched the cash before she had a chance to take it from the machine herself.

He did not touch or assault the victim and made a run for it from the shopping centre with the bounty.

A witness gave chase down Bronte Rd where Ball dropped $150 and the good Samaritan stopped his pursuit, believing that was all the money that had been taken.

Ms Catron said the theft was a “spur of the moment” act and Ball wanted the court to order he repay the woman in full.

The 23-year-old said his drug use was no excuse for the robbery. Picture: Joel Carrett / NCA NewsWire

Magistrate Ross Hudson said the offence Ball pleaded guilty to carried a maximum 14-year jail sentence but he was confident the young man would not reoffend.

“It’s critical for you where there are those ongoing mental health issues that you allow the experts to treat the mental health,” Mr Hudson said.

“And not treat the barrier you are putting up, the veil you are putting up, by using illegal drugs.

“Make sure you treat yourself legally … is that understood?”

Ball replied: “Yes, Your Honour.”

Magistrate Hudson warned that if he broke the bond Ball would be hauled back before the courts.