Teen robber out of jail
A GEELONG schoolgirl was stomped on and had a knife pulled on her during a vicious attack on a bus that was filmed on a mobile phone.
The County Court yesterday heard the 18-year-old was confronted by a group of youths as she caught a public bus towards the CBD from North Geelong Secondary College.
The incident on September 16 last year was sparked when Candice Taylor, 19, pointed a knife at the victim and demanded her mobile phone.
Taylor, of Norlane, was freed from custody yesterday after being sentenced to time served and a correction order.
She pleaded guilty to charges including attempted armed robbery, recklessly causing injury and common assault.
Court documents reveal Taylor was among a group of four teens who confronted the victim soon after she boarded the Route 1 bus.
The student was not known to her attackers. been bolstered by a strong and unexpected outpouring of support from its community.
Mr Vogel said he penned a heartfelt email to their loyal wine club members, family and friends last weekend, saying that any online sales would go some way towards securing a future workplace for staff — and the response has blown him away.
“Online sales are pretty much the only source of income we have so we have been overwhelmed by the support of our community and
Taylor sat beside the victim and produced a flick knife with a 25cm blade, which she pointed at the schoolgirl’s stomach as the bus travelled through Geelong West.
A scuffle ensued when the victim refused to hand over her phone and she eventually ended up on the floor between the seats.
While the student was defenceless, Taylor and a 16year-old girl kicked and stomped on her face, body and legs.
Documents state the victim the volume of purchases,” he said.
Mr Vogel said it showed that in a crisis, people banded together to support each other, and great character shone through.
“It has really meant a lot to us,” he said. “Being a relatively new business and recently opening our kitchen, our calendar was only just starting to look pretty full with events and strong weekend bookings. Then in a week they were all gone, with all of the restaurants and other venues that sold our wine following not long after.”
As vice-president of the region’s winegrower’s association Wine Geelong, Mr Vogel says Provenance Wines is not the only winery hurting.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of was upset and shaken, with the attack resulting in some of her hair being pulled out.
She also sustained a swollen lip and scratches.
During the assault, the bus driver tried to intervene to help the victim, but was threatened with the knife by Taylor who warned him to “get away”.
The group left the bus and walked away from the scene. wineries in the past couple of weeks and it’s really devastating,” he said.
“I really hope that Geelong can get behind its local wineries.”
Despite COVID-19, Provenance now finds itself in the middle of its busiest period — harvest — and Mr Vogel said it was business as usual on that front, except with kitchen, restaurant and cellar door staff now out in the vineyard picking, instead of the normal labour hire crew.
Provenance Wines is now offering all customers a 20 per cent discount on all online wine sales by using the special code ‘GEELONG’ at the checkout.
You can find Provenance Wines online at: www.provenancewines.com.au.
Police arrested several of them weeks later and seized a mobile phone that contained a video recording of the assault.
Taylor was remanded in custody after her arrest on October 9.
The court heard she was the eldest member of the group involved in the attack.
Her co-offenders were previously sentenced in the Children’s Court orders.
Sentencing judge Gerard Mullaly said Taylor had mental health issues that had been fuelled by “problems” during her upbringing.
The teen’s lawyer said those issues had contributed to poor decision-making.
Taylor was sentenced to 177 days in jail — recorded as time served — and put on a 12-month community correction order. The order includes treatment for mental health and drug abuse. to probation