16-year-old girl sentenced for involvement in terrifying Coles carjacking attempts, staff member stabbed with scissors

A 16-year-old girl who was trying to steal cars with other juveniles that resulted in a supermarket staff member being stabbed with scissors has been sentenced for the brazen carjacking attempts.

16-year-old girl sentenced for involvement in terrifying Coles, North Ward carjacking attempts, staff member stabbed with scissors. Picture: Google Maps

A group of juveniles attempted to steal vehicles at a supermarket car park by asking the owners for the time as they parked, and attempted to forcefully open the doors while armed with a pair of scissors, resulting in one woman being stabbed.

One of the girls, who was 15 at the time and was the first from the group to be sentenced, appeared in Townsville District Court on Friday morning.

On May 23 last year the trio approached a woman putting groceries into her car that was parked on Mitchell Street outside the Coles North Ward, with one of the juveniles asking her for the time, crown prosecutor Patrick Newman said.

As the woman answered and got into her vehicle a juvenile said, ‘give us your car’ and she locked the doors.

Mr Newman said one of the girls tried to open the car door, but the woman was able to speed off.

Only 30 minutes later, the group approached a young woman who was about to start her shift and was parking at the back of the supermarket, the court was told.

“The group of three surrounded her car, and asked her what time it was,” Mr Newman said.

One of the juveniles then asked for the woman’s car and when she refused, the juvenile who was armed with scissors lunged at her three times before cutting the woman’s shoulder.

The crown said the woman tried to get the scissors from the juvenile in the process and started to use Siri to call the police before the group ran away.

“It was brazen and happened in the middle of the day where people were coming and going about their business at a popular shopping centre,” Mr Newman said.

However he did acknowledge the now 16-year-old girl was “not an active participant” she was not armed with the scissors, nor did she attempt to open the car doors.

The court was told the young girl had no criminal history at the time of the offence however had accumulated 10 property and failure to appear in court offences since, and had spent 222 days in pre-sentence detention.

It was also said that the girl had an aunty who lived out of town and was willing to support her if she were to consent to a probation order, however the juvenile had expressed her wishes to stay in Townsville.

Defence barrister Darin Honchin instructed by Stevenson Mcnamara Lawyers told the court that as she had not given consent to the probation order she couldn’t be put on one despite having explained to her the benefits of probation.

“I should also note there is no parent or guardian here for the child,” Mr Honchin said.

“Your Honour is not constrained in that respect you can continue with the sentence as I understand it, the kinship carer is aware the sentencing is going on today but as Your Honour will see there’s no one else here today.

“The matter can proceed, and given the nature of the offending and nature of the potential sentence, the amount of time already spent is significant.”

During the sentence, Judge John Coker highlighted that community members were “perfectly entitled” to go about their days, however, considered the 222 days the girl had already spent in detention.

“You acted in a manner that was frightening and obviously would’ve had an effect on both of them,” he said.

“Those persons with whom you’ve been associating with, are not assisting you.”

The girl pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful entry and attempted robbery with violence.

She was reprimanded and not further punished. No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as 16-year-old girl sentenced for involvement in terrifying Coles carjacking attempts, staff member stabbed with scissors