Young armed robber gets additional community service for failing to meet victims

A teenager convicted of armed robbery has found out what the next steps in his punishment are after he refused to meet with the victim.

Kingaroy Magistrates Court. File Photo.

A teenager who was convicted of an armed robbery last year after he held a young woman at knifepoint was re-sentenced on Monday at Kingaroy District Court after he refused to comply with an order.

The court was told the teen was sentenced for multiple charges on April 20 last year that included enter dwelling with intent, attempted robbery with actual violence and armed robbery.

The court heard on one occasion the teen was with at least one another person who “attended a person’s address” where one of the accused was armed with a knife.

Crown prosecutor Christa Nicola said the armed robbery charge was the “most serious charge”.

“It related to him wielding a knife to an 18-year-old who was sitting in her car. She was asked by (the defendant) and others to get out of that car and the car was left but the keys were stolen,” Ms Nicola said.

“She was told not to move or she would be stabbed.”

The court heard after the teen was arrested he was in detention for 17 days with 14 days spent in the Murgon watchouse.

“He does have a three-page (criminal) history, it commences when he was 14-years-old,” Ms Nicola said.

“It does relate to property and violent offending.”

When sentenced in April 2023 the teen was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and was given a restorative justice order where the he would have to meet with his victims to discuss what happened and the effects it had on them.

The court heard he has since completed 30 hours of community service, however, he refused to participate in the restorative justice order which triggered the re-sentencing.

The court heard the teen also breached his probation in November last year, which resulted in his probation being extended by more than two months in a previous hearing.

The teen’s lawyer, Tristan Carlos, explained the reasons he refused to comply with the order.

“He is a particularly quiet person, it’s difficult with him to interact with others … he’s quite guarded,” Mr Carlos said.

“He is overwhelmed with the prospect of engaging with the victims to the offending and could not bring himself to do that.

“It’s that particular intimidation that came with it.”

Judge Glen Cash said it was “unfortunate” the teen didn’t want to participate with the restorative justice order but said there were also some cultural elements to his unwillingness.

Judge Cash ordered an extra 30 hours of community service on top of the original 50 hours which must be completed in 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Young armed robber gets additional community service for failing to meet victims