James Christian Thomas faces Mackay court for violent robbery on fishing trip

Although he was not the ‘main agitator’ in a plan to violently rob two 14 year olds while fishing, this young man was already in trouble with the law. DETAILS

Though not the “main agigator”, a young man was already in trouble with the law when he helped hold up two boys fishing on the Pioneer River. Picture: Michaela Harlow

A young man who helped a friend hold up two boys on a late night fishing trip was already on two suspended sentences when he took part in the violent robbery.

James Christian Thomas was fishing on the banks of the Pioneer River in Mackay with co-accused Jacob Alan Miller when they robbed two 14-year-olds on or about June 25, 2023.

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said the pair had chatted to the boys in passing earlier that day, admiring their things and subsequently plotting to steal them.

While Ms Gallagher said Miller was the one “doing violence and making the threats”, Thomas had breached both suspended sentences with his involvement.

Defence barrister Scott Moon said it was clear Miller was the “main agitator” while Thomas was a “follower” in the offending.

“(Thomas) is a young man at 22 years old,” Mr Moon said.

“One would hope that this first stint in custody, and certainly a lengthy one, is something he doesn’t wish to repeat.”

The court heard Thomas had been in pre-sentence custody for 336 days after a bail application was rejected in 2023.

Thomas pleaded guilty to robbery while in company with violence and stealing.

Both parties agreed there should be parity between the coaccused. Miller had been jailed for two years and nine months, wholly suspended in April.

Two Mackay parents are angry after watching Jacob Alan Miller who assaulted their young teen son on a fishing trip on the banks of the Pioneer River walk free from court. Picture: Michaela Harlow

One of the victim boy’s parents spoke to the Daily Mercury to say they “can’t see the justice in what he got” after seeing the incident’s “heartbreaking” effect on their son.

Judge Terry Gardiner said Thomas’s “youth is the matter at the forefront of my mind in sentencing” him.

Thomas was also jailed for two years and nine months with immediate parole and his 336 days in presentence custody declared time served.

A suspended sentence of three months was also activated to be served concurrently.

Originally published as James Christian Thomas faces Mackay court for violent robbery on fishing trip