CITY’S ‘BAD IMAGE’

Judge lashes out at teenage ‘thugs’ bashing tourists

A SENIOR Cairns Judge has slammed a teenager for disgracing the region after she was involved in a plan to target and rob two Asian tourists.

“This is a town that relies heavily on tourism,” Judge Brian Harrison told the 14-yearold in the Children’s Court yesterday.

“And the last thing we want are groups of thugs, girls and boys, going around bashing tourists trying to take their money.

“It gives our city an incredibly bad name and, for that reason, I regard your offending as extremely serious.”

The girl was part of a group of six others who planned to target Asian women or tourists because of their vulnerability in a foreign town.

She was just 13 years old when the offending took place in August last year.

The group lashed out at two Asian women, aged 62 and 35.

“They should have been allowed to walk along the street minding their own business in a town like Cairns without being set upon by a group of thugs,” he said.

The younger victim was punched a number of times in the face by members of the group.

The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pulled the older woman by the hair during the attack.

“To just target people like that and use them as punching bags … it’s disgraceful,” Judge Harrison said.

She pleaded guilty in the Children’s Court of Queensland to four charges including attempted robbery and serious assault.

Defence barrister Stephanie Williams said her client, now aged 14, had intellectual difficulties. The court was told she had limited capacity for adaptation.

Ms Williams said the girl also suffered severe levels of depression and anxiety.

Judge Harrison said he took her personal circumstances into consideration and the fact that she had no history of violence.

She was placed on an 18month probation order and no conviction was recorded.

Cairns District Crime Prevention Senior Constable Russ Parker said youth offending in the region was generally “opportunistic and unsophisticated”.

“They’re not organised criminals or anything … it’s generally a decision that’s made on the night,” Sen Const Parker said.

Offenders were as young as 10 with property crime the main area. “It is shocking and it’s directly related to parenting or lack thereof,” Sen Const Parker said.

Some Cairns youths were living in a family situation where there was no responsibility or supervision.

“They’re just allowed to do what they want,” Sen Const Parker said.

“You’ve only got to drive around to see youths skulking around of a night time.

“We’ve got a lot of families who just simply don’t parent.”