Teen faces Maryborough court for bashing schoolmate

A high school student who was part of a group that chased down and bashed a fellow student as he rode a scooter along a Maryborough street has been sentenced by the Children’s Court.

A court has heard a teenager attacked a schoolmate who was riding his scooter.

A teenager who assaulted a schoolmate on a scooter has faced court in Maryborough.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company and one count of wilful damage when he faced Maryborough Children’s Court on Thursday, May 2.

The court heard on August 11, 2023, the teen, who was then aged 15, was with friends when the assault was carried out on his schoolmate.

The teen did not get along with the other boy and when he saw him riding his scooter, the teen and his friends chased him and punched him a number of time, the court heard.

The wilful damage related to an incident in which the teenager had punched the wall a number of times while living with his grandmother, the court was told.

The teenager was now living with his girlfriend and her mother.

His mother was present in court to support him.

The teenager was no longer attending school but had been preparing to find a job and make some changes to his life, the court heard.

Judge Vicki Loury said the violent offence was a serious one with a maximum penalty of five years in detention.

“Of course I’m not going to do that but that should tell you how serious it is,” she said.

The child had been doing the Transition to Success program while waiting to be sentenced, Judge Loury said.

She said he had been doing things to put himself in a position to get a job.

A teenager has been sentenced for assault occasioning bodily harm in Maryborough Children’s Court.

“That is excellent, because when you have a job, you earn money and you can buy things that you want, and when you have a job you feel good about yourself because you can buy things that you want.

“You might be able to take your girlfriend out for dinner, you might be able to take your girlfriend to the movies and do things that are enjoyable.”

Judge Loury said the teen had been described as “resourceful”, meaning that he could make decisions that would help him in the future.

He had been engaging in a community program, working on projects to make the Maryborough community better, Judge Loury said.

She said it seemed to her there was hope he could change his life and he would not return to court.

“In sentencing you I want to try to help you stay on that course that you’re currently on so that you’re in the best position to get on with your life and lead a good, law-abiding life so that you can be a man that our community is proud of, that your girlfriend is proud of and your mum is proud of.”

The teenager was sentenced to three months on probation.

No conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as Teen faces Maryborough court for bashing schoolmate