Todd Hodges and Jesse Ryan Penn-Hite sentenced after Autistic teen held at knifepoint in brazen Toowoomba robbery

“I’ll kill you”: Man who chased down vulnerable teen, robbing him of his shoes and belongings, was sentenced in court before being released back into the community

Toowoomba man Todd Leslie Charles Hodges. Picture: FILE / social media

A Darling Downs man who helped his mate rob a vulnerable 16-year-old Toowoomba boy at knifepoint has been released on parole.

A court heard during the day on May 28, 2023, two young men - Todd Leslie Hodges and Jesse Ryan Penn-Hite - robbed the young Autistic boy after they spotted him walking down a Toowoomba street.

When the chief offender Penn-Hite was sentenced earlier this year, the court heard the robbery was sparked by a social media interaction, where the victim threatened violence against the pair.

Toowoomba man Todd Leslie Charles Hodges. Picture: FILE / social media

The court heard the teenager was walking with a friend when he spotted the offenders and attempted to run and hide.

Penn-Hite who was 19 at the time, and Hodges who was 21, chased the teen down.

Penn-Hite levelled a knife at the boy, demanding he hand over his shoes and bag, or else he would “kill him”.

He also pulled a chain from the boy’s neck and put him in a choke hold, before the teen managed to run away and seek help from a nearby motel.

The pair later called the victim and said his property would returned if he told police he lied about the knife and assault.

An incriminating video recording of the phone call was later found on Penn-Hite’s phone.

Hodges pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company with violence, perverting the course of justice, at the Toowoomba District Court on Thursday, August 29, and was sentenced to a three-year jail term.

The Toowoomba court house, police station, and watch house. Picture: Peta McEachern

At the Toowoomba District Court in March, Penn-Hite pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company with violence and perverting the course of justice, however he also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of grooming a 15-year-old girl.

Penn-Hite was sentenced to a four-year jail term, suspended after 12 months, and a three-year probation order after 288 days served in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.

Hodges also had 354 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served, however he was released on parole.

The court heard although Hodges was not the principal offender, he had a lengthy and serious criminal history that included acts of violence.

At the time of the daylight robbery, Hodges was on a suspended sentence and probation order for other offending.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC told Hodges given he too had a disability, he should have sympathised with the victim’s vulnerability.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the 22-year-old’s five-page criminal history was ‘troubling’ however noted the man’s physiological issues were “part and parcel” of his offending.

He warned the teen he may find it difficult to stay out of trouble and urged him to figure out a way to “stay straight”.