Teenagers who were armed with machetes and knives and stole cars given probation

TWO Toowoomba teenagers responsible for a series of car thefts at knifepoint have walked out of court without as much as a conviction.

The pair, who as 16-year-old juvenile criminals can’t be named publicly, burst into a Toowoomba home with two other teenagers armed with machetes and knives and stole two cars from the occupants.

The group filmed themselves doing burnouts and drifting in the stolen cars.

Two days later one of the cars was found burnt out in Westbrook while the other car was abandoned in Redbank Plains, the Children’s Court of Queensland in Toowoomba was told.

On Anzac Day as a couple observed the fallen by holding a vigil at the end of their driveway, the teens with two mates showed up armed with machetes and knives and demanded their cars.

As the terrified woman went inside to get her car keys, one of the teens had followed her, stole her wallet and iPhone as well and the group drove off in the couple’s car.

The group drove to Brisbane where they held up another woman, wielding their machetes and knives, until she gave up her car keys to her Subaru in which they drove away.

They had then come across a man in a BMW which they attacked and drove away after threatening him.

Police eventually found the BMW and Subaru travelling on the Warrego Highway toward Toowoomba, the Subaru clocked at 173kmh in an 80kmh zone near Forest Hill, Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie told the court.

Police placed stingers across the road which brought the vehicles to a halt.

One of the boys was already on probation for stealing a $9000 diamond ring which he had swapped for ice, the court heard.

Both pleaded guilty to all charges.

Defence barrister Frank Martin, for one of the accused, told the court his client had spent 174 days in custody since his arrest and because of COVID restrictions hadn’t been able to see his mother who was in court supporting him.

His client had no previous convictions, he said.

Barrister David Jones, for the other accused, said although his client had criminal history, a conviction could have an adverse effect against him obtaining employment in the future.

“If he can’t get a job he’ll be back before the District Court and the Supreme Court for the rest of his life,” he submitted.

Judge Dennis Lynch QC told the pair he would place them on probation for their own good.

“The purpose of this is to give you some sort of future,” he told them.

Judge Lynch placed both boys on two years probation and ordered the convictions not be recorded.