Boy, 15, accused of robbery
Magistrate refuses bail, teenager remanded in custody
He threatened the 12 and 14-year-old that he’d produce a knife if they didn’t hand over the watch. — Police prosecutor Senior Constable Julia Wheaton
A 15-YEAR-OLD Toowoomba boy accused of trying to rob two other children has been refused bail and remanded in custody.
The teenager, who, because he is a juvenile cannot be named, is accused of trying to rob two boys aged 12 and 14 of a wrist watch in Toowoomba last Thursday.
He was arrested on Friday and spent the night in the watch house before appearing at a special Saturday morning sitting of the Toowoomba Children’s Court.
Police objected to his bail application with prosecutor Julia Wheaton telling the court the boy’s offending in recent times was “escalating”.
She said the lad was on bail for 19 serious property offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, entering a premises with intent, burglary and stealing and that the alleged robbery was an escalation of his offending.
“He threatened the 12 and 14-year-old that he’d produce a knife if they didn’t hand over the watch,” Senior Constable Wheaton submitted.
Police had searched the accused boy’s home on Friday and found a knife in the backpack that police claim he had with him the day before when he allegedly committed the attempted robbery, she said.
The lad was not required to enter pleas to charges of attempted robbery in company and common assault arising from that alleged incident and to an unrelated stealing charge.
Duty solicitor Jag MacDonald told the court his client had been doing well on his current bail program and was going to school and abiding by a nightly curfew.
His client was not likely to receive a term of detention if convicted of the charges and so should be allowed to be released on bail, he submitted.
The boy’s mother was in court and his curfew conditions could be increased, Mr MacDonald said.
However, Magistrate Graham Lee refused bail and remanded the 15-year-old in custody with the matter adjourned to the Children’s Court sittings of November 2.