Toowoomba teen pleads guilty to assaulting mum and 11yo sister over cigarettes

A disadvantaged young boy threatened to behead his mother in a heated argument over cigarettes and a mobile phone.

A teenager has been sentenced for making violent threats against his family during an argument over cigarettes and a phone. Picture: File

A Toowoomba teenager told his mother he would “chop her head off” in an argument sparked by the quality of cigarettes.

Pleading guilty before Toowoomba Childrens Court on Thursday, a 15-year-old boy admitted to assaulting his mother and 11-year-old sister after a heated argument at their family home last Sunday.

Police prosecutor Anita Page told the court the fight broke out when the boy criticised his mother for her choice of cigarettes.

“He began abusing his mother about the poor quality of her cigarettes and that she wasn’t going to buy him a mobile phone,” she said.

“(His mother) has eventually told him to leave the address because of his abuse and violent demeanour at which point he has (punched) his mother on the side of the face.”

The boy threatened to kill his mother, telling her he would “chop her head off”.

He then hit his 11-year-old sister, who witnessed the entire fight, across her face.

“The defendant child added that both his mother and little sister deserved to be hit and he would do it again,” Ms Page said.

“I’m concerned about the level of violence he has used, particularly with a younger child.”

Solicitor Michael Corbin told the court the boy struggled with abuse from a young age, detailing a long list of diagnoses, including ADHD, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, PTSD, anxiety and depression.

“(My client) has some significant anger issues,” he said.

“He comes across, in my submission, as a young man who is trying to find his way but feels that the only response he can make at this point in time is one of anger and threats.

“Sadly that is becoming more and more the case for young people in this day and age.

“We discussed this morning options or ways to channel that (anger) into something more productive.”

He added the boy deeply regretted his actions, particularly towards his younger sister.

“My client instructs me that he was in a heightened state, in the argument with his mother, and he turned, flung his arm out, and hit his sister,” Mr Corbin said.

“His statement to police that he would do it again was really pure childish stupidity, in my respectful submission – he’s got all these issues with his thought process and his reactions to things.

“He is certainly very sorry he hit his sister and he is sorry that he did not better manage the situation.”

Mr Corbin further argued police disregarded an option to refer the young boy to restorative justice before bringing the matter to court and asked his charges be dismissed.

Magistrate Mark Howden warned the boy if he continued his behaviour he would assuredly end up in custody.

“You cannot use your fists … violence solves nothing,” he said.

The boy’s pleas were accepted and he was referred to restorative justice conferencing.