VIDEO: Darling Downs teenager robbed bottle shop with mates while on meth sentenced in court

The sentence of a teenager involved in the armed robbery of a Toowoomba bottleshop was rushed through court to save the ‘lucky’ teen from being sentenced as an adult. See the chilling footage.

An 18-year-old man has been sentenced for his role in the armed robbery of Dan Murphys, on James St Toowoomba, which occurred in May 2023. Picture: QPS public appeal

A soon-to-be 19-year-old man was told he was lucky to have his robbery case go before a sympathetic and accommodating judge, or else he would have been sentenced as an adult.

The Children’s Court of Queensland at Toowoomba on Wednesday, August 28, heard the young Darling Downs man was a party to an armed robbery in April 2023 when he was four months away from turning 18.

The crime

The court was told the young man and two others, who were armed with a machete and knife, robbed a Toowoomba Dan Murphy’s on May 8 about 7.20pm, taking off with $360 and whatever alcohol the 18-year-old could carry.

Police have not laid charges against the other armed offenders, one of which stood on lookout and the other brandished a machete at staff before demanding money from a till.

The court was told the former Darling Downs man consistently offended as a teenager, racking up a 13-page criminal history that included fraud, unlawful use of motor vehicles, burglary, probation breaches, and one charge of dangerous operation of a car.

Crown prosecutor Abby Kong said the robbery was the man’s most serious crime and showed his criminal activity had escalated, noting it would have been terrifying for staff and customers.

Ms Kong submitted a probation order, between 18 months and two years, was within range.

The court was told the case was originally set down for a contested trial, however the case was expedited because the teen is due to turn 19.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC told the young man his guilty plea was valuable considering it was an identification case and he “fessed up” to his involvement.

“Everyone’s here today because we facilitated first a trial … then the plea of guilty had to be sentenced in the course of this week … because you’re turning 19,” he said.

An 18-year-old man has been sentenced for his role in the armed robbery of Dan Murphys, on James St Toowoomba, which occurred in May 2023. Picture: QPS public appeal

“You’re lucky that there happened to be a judge out here this week … and you’re lucky that you had a sympathetic one who was prepared to accommodate the request.

“Had that not happened … it’s a completely different ball game, you’d be dealt with for an armed robbery as an adult bearing in mind that you were a child at the time.

“It’s vitally important you put a line under that juvenile criminal history (and) that this is the last thing that brings you back to the court.”

Sentencing remarks

Judge Horneman-Wren said the young man, who had abstained from meth for more than a year, was well on the path to recovery having started a job and moving to a new region away from bad influences.

“We all know that the best means of rehabilitation for young people is work,” he said.

“It takes up your time so you’re not idle, hanging out, and taking drugs and drinking, it means you have to get up in the morning and be responsible.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren.

“Secondly, it means that young people actually develop an appreciation for what it is to earn things through hard work … and you realise you don’t want people stealing them let alone robbing you of them.”

He told the young man his armed co-offenders left him hung out to dry.

“They’re somewhere uncharged and you’re taking the wrap for this so they’re not mates,” he told the man.

“You were not the one with the machete, you were not the one with the knife, you were not the one who demanded the cash, but you know that you are just as liable.

The young man walks past his armed co-offender, with armfuls of alcohol bottles. Picture: QPS public appeal

“You can’t control what your idiot mates do, so that’s the lesson that you must have learnt out of all of this.”

Judge Horneman-Wren said, that if he breached his probation order it could be cancelled, forcing him to be resentenced as an adult.

“You’re in really dangerous territory as far as that’s concerned,” he said.

“That’s why it’s so vital that you don’t commit any offences and that you don’t do any drugs.

“The easiest way to come back here is to go back on the drugs … simple as that.”

The young man was sentenced to an 18-month probation order and no conviction was recorded.