Teen to miss birth of first child and spend time in adult prison

The teen who stormed the Toowoomba home of a Middle Eastern refugee before cutting him has turned 18 in detention and burst into tears when he found out he was going to adult prison.

The teenager will be inside an adult prison and miss the birth of his first child.

A violent teen home invader burst into tears when told he would not only miss the birth of his first child in January but he would be moved into the adult prison before being released.

The now 18-year-old, who was a juvenile at the time of the offences and so can’t be named, appeared via video link from the juvenile detention centre to plead guilty before the Children’s Court of Queensland at Toowoomba to charges arising from two separate crimes of violence.

Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie told the court the then 17-year-old had put on a mask and hoodie and armed himself with a knife when he committed a home invasion of the home of a Middle Eastern refugee in Toowoomba about 2am, April 27.

The complainant man called police but when the teen went to flee a scuffle between the two ensured during which the man sustained a cut, the court heard.

Ms Petrie said the victim had been subject to Isis in his native country and came to Australia believing he would be safe.

“Now he doesn’t feel safe in Australia and he has moved house,” she said.

The other event involved the teen’s pregnant partner who he had assaulted, threatened with a knife and taken her car which he damaged, Ms Petrie said.

The woman was now 32 weeks pregnant and, despite the teenager’s offending, wanted him to have a relationship with their child because he had had no relationship with his father who had been in and out of jail, she said.

The teenager’s barrister Frank Martin said his client wanted to get into the hospitality industry when released from custody and he had done a barista course while in detention.

He had also been completing his year 12 studies, he said.

Mr Martin said his client hoped to get out of custody in time for the birth of his child in January and before he would be required to go to the adult prison.

“He tells me he’s petrified of going to the adult jail,” he said.

However, Judge Dennis Lynch QC said the offences were “very serious” and called for penalty of deterrence.

Judge Lynch noted the teen had “a significant criminal record” which included armed robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm, wounding and a previous home invasion.

Telling the teen he would not be out in time for the birth of his child and that he would spend time in adult prison, Judge Lynch sentenced him to 18 months in detention and ordered he serve 50% of the term.

In keeping with the Juvenile Justice Act, the convictions were not recorded.