Youth crime: Teen sentenced in Toowoomba for violent assault, car robbery of carer

A Darling Downs teen who abused and assaulted social workers trying to care for him has been sentenced after the violent car robbery of his carer.

A troubled Darling Downs boy who’s abusive and violent toward social workers who were trying to care for and help the teen, had been sentenced for the violent car robbery of his carer.

A Darling Downs boy who has been in state care since the age of four was sentenced to a community-based order for assaulting his caregivers and attempting to steal their car alongside another troubled teen.

Before the Children’s Court of Queensland on Tuesday, December 10, the 13-year-old boy pleaded guilty to robbery with personal violence while in company, assault occasioning bodily harm, and the unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The court heard during the January incident, which was spearheaded by the co-offender, both of the 13-year-olds assaulted a woman.

After the 13-year-old girl grabbed the woman’s car keys and fled the home, the court heard the teenage boy scuffle with a woman in a hallway before pushing her into a doorframe and jumping into the car.

The teens couldn’t start the car, pushing it out of the driveway in an attempt to get the motor going, however they failed.

The girl took off on foot however the boy, who was on a probation order at the time, was arrested and subsequently spent a night in the watch house.

Crown Prosecutor Emily Coley said the boy had a long criminal history for his age and the violent robbery was his most serious crime to date marking an escalation in his offending.

Barrister John Davis said the boy had been on the radar of Child Services since birth as both his parents were heavily involved in drugs and violence, which his client bore witness to during his formative years.

During the child’s first four years of life, Mr Davis said the boy was neglected, often left alone to the point where neighbours would have to feed him.

He said despite the teenager disengaging with his education, he hoped to work in security or as a social worker helping at-risk teens.

Mr Davis noted the teen was diagnosed with ADHD.

The boy’s Youth Justice Report was read to the court before he was sentenced, which showed the teen had a history of noncompliance and displayed aggressive and inappropriate behaviour to social workers.

In May this year, the court heard the teen spat in the face of his team leader and had been attending school about once a week.

“He has previously been subject to a restorative justice order… that order was discharged… due to (his) aggressive behaviours and making threats towards Youth Justice staff,” the report stated.

The court heard the Darling Downs teen was not allowed to attend the Department of Youth Justice office in Toowoomba because of his aggressive behaviour towards staff.

The department enrolled the teen in a program to address his behaviour, although he’s still in module one, as it was hard to engage the teen in “meaningful interventions”.

The court heard the child’s caseworkers reported the teen bragged about the size of the knives he carried around, and his anti-social attitude and disrespect of authority figures was an ongoing issue.

The night before his court appearance, the court heard the teen was not at home for a bail check, and he asked a youth worker to pick him and his mates up.

“The youth worker was not willing… because she did not feel safe with them all in the car due to their behaviours and suspicion they were under the influence of substances,” the report said.

“(He) became aggressive when told she would not transport his mates.”

Due to the teen’s threats and aggressive behaviour, his placement caregiver was directed to lock her doors and call police if he returned home – which he did at 2.30am, several hours before he was due the be sentenced.

No incident occurred after the teen arrived home.

Within the last month, the court heard Youth Justice implemented “intensive management” case workers which provide more supervision and support for juvenile offenders, which the teen was now subject to.

One of the changes for a child under the new regime was multiple reporting days rather than one.

Ms Coley submitted a 12 to 18 month probation order was within range and Mr Davis submitted a 12 month probation order.

Judge Nicole Kefford sentenced the teen to an 18 month probation order and restorative justice order.

No conviction was recorded.