Teen’s Rockhampton region crime spree revealed

Two women have revealed the nightmares they still live years after they were victims of armed robberies at the hands of a teen and his mates.

A victim of an armed robbery by juveniles feels like “petrified old lady” who was “forced into retirement for a garbage bin of alcohol bottles by young thieves”, a court has heard.

A victim of an armed robbery by juveniles feels like “petrified old lady” who was “forced into retirement for a garbage bin of alcohol bottles by young thieves”, a court has heard.

One of those young thieves was sentenced in the Children’s Court of Queensland in Rockhampton recently after carrying out four armed robberies across the region during a nine-day crime spree in November 2023.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the defendant, now aged 17, and a group of co-offenders broke into the Pine Beach Hotel at Emu Park about 4.30am on November 12, 2023.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Keast said a staff member, aged 63, confronted the group and positioned herself between the stolen goods and the exit.

Judge Clarke said the defendant picked up a fire extinguisher, raised it above his head and threatened the victim, yelling at her to give him money, to which she replied there wasn’t any.

“She was obviously scared that (the defendant) was going to throw it at her,” he said.

Judge Clarke said someone outside the venue told the defendant to ‘hurry up’ and the offenders left.

Six days later, the defendant produced a knife on a woman walking back to her car at Stockland Rockhampton after having sushi for dinner with friends.

Judge Clarke said the defendant demanded the woman hand over her car keys, telling her “we’ll stab you” while “tussling with her for a handbag”.

The defendant got away with the bag which contained the keys and other personal items and he, along with his two co-offenders, drove off in her car.

The young offender was arrested and remanded in custody on December 3.

Pine Beach Hotel victim’s ‘life has become unbearable’

The Pine Beach Hotel provided an impact statement to the court.

Mr Keast said this victim effectively had to retire on a pension due to the impact of the robbery.

“She really has lost her sense of security in the community,” he said.

Judge Clarke said this victim wrote that her life has never been the same.

“Loud noises make her jump,” he said.

“She experiences nightmares where she re-experiences what you and the others did to her.

“She tried to go back to work, but wasn’t able to.

“She now lives in a house where she double and triple checks all the doors and windows.

“She has a padlock and chain on the front gate.

“Because she’s unable to work, the financial strain on her family has been enormous.

“She feels that she’s a washed up, petrified old lady.

“She has no self esteem.

“She was in fear for her life.

“She was forced into early retirement for a garbage full of alcohol by some young thieves who have no respect for anyone or anything that crosses their selfish paths.

“She’s tried to get some medication to help her sleep at night.

“She says her life has become unbearable, and she’s concerned about what could have happened to her.

“She says that she feels that she has become a hermit.

“She is not going to go out after dark, and she really just can’t believe the invasion and disruption that’s been caused to her life as a consequence of the offending.”

‘Devastating financial and emotional impacts’ on Stockland Rockhampton victim

Mr Keast said the Stocklands victim, in her impact statement, spoke of the “devastating financial impacts” and that it wasn’t just the car that was stolen from her.

“This robbery has taken more than just my belongings,” her impact statement said, the court heard.

“It has stolen my sense of security, my confidence and my peace of mind.”

Judge Clarke said this victim wrote in her statement that she didn’t just suffer the financial impact of losing her car and child safety seats inside, it was also the loss of the mobility used in daily life and used to transport her children.

“It’s all been a huge cost and emotional anxiety to her,” he said.

“She said the feelings immediately afterwards were quite overwhelming, especially because (the defendant) and (co-offender) had access to keys to her house.

“She said that it was just an everyday task going to the shop and now, when she does that sort of thing, she has an element of fear, questioning the intentions of those that are around her, feeling vulnerable.”

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of armed robbery in company, three of enter premises by break and commit indictable offence, two of unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company at night and used to commit an indictable offence, two dishonest gain (fuel drive offs) offences, one of stealing and one of entering a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He was sentenced to 18-months detention to be released after serving 60 per cent.

Convictions were recorded for all offences.

Originally published as Teen’s Rockhampton region crime spree revealed