Bag snatch over cash for drugs, boredom

A CAIRNS teen snatched an older woman’s handbag in a targeted “cowardly and cruel” attack because he was bored and wanted money for drugs.

Judge Leanne Clare SC labelled it “predatory behaviour” after the then 17-year-old boy saw the woman on the street and followed her, pushing her over and taking her bag containing about $130.

“You could seriously have hurt her,” Judge Clare said.

“Falls are one of the major causes of real harm for old people. Fortunately her physical injury was limited to bruises.”

The Cairns District Court heard that the teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had just been released on probation over burglary offences.

“One can readily imagine that this was a terrible experience for her,” Judge Clare said. “It was cowardly and cruel. “The reasons why you did this are said to be boredom and drug abuse. You wanted money for cannabis.”

He had been using that drug since he was 14 and at the time he had turned his back on his family. A psychologist’s report revealed he has little insight into his offending and refuses to take part in mediation.

“Unless you do things differently you’re going to spend a lot of time in the future in prison,” Judge Clare said.

Now 18, he had already spent 140 days in custody when he pleaded guilty to robbery with violence.

Judge Clare sentenced him to 12 months detention immediately suspended on a conditional release order. For three months he must participate in a rehabilitation program and if he doesn’t comply or reoffends, he will go to an adult jail. A conviction was not recorded.