Violent teen released on conditional order

A TOOWOOMBA teenager who twice punched a youth detention centre officer has been released on a strict supervision order.

The now 17-year-old was just 16 when he was being housed in the Youth Detention Centre at Wacol when the incident occurred.

As a juvenile offender the teenager cannot be identified.

Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand told the court the teenager had a history of violent behaviour going back to when he was just 14 when he committed a robbery in company and had punched another youth twice for “snitching” on him.

In March 2018 the teen had become embroiled in an argument with his brother who threw a chair at him and he had retaliated by throwing a knife at his brother which struck in him the leg leading to a charge of unlawful wounding, Mr Le Grand said.

When aged 15 the teenager had punched a boy, causing assault occasioning bodily harm, and stole his bike and then he had gone to a person’s home armed with a hammer and stole the keys to the person’s car which he drove off in for which he was sentenced to five months detention along with 12 months probation, he said.

This offence had occurred one week after he was sentenced when he was at the detention centre.

Told to go back to his room, the teenager had sworn at a detention centre officer and then punched him in the face and neck before he had to be restrained by other staff members.

Mr Le Grand said the boy was about nine months off becoming an adult in the system and that he had a tendency for violence.

His barrister Shane MacDonald told the court his client had since taken up with an 18year-old woman who was in court supporting him and who had been a positive influence on him.

“He has settled down a lot,” Mr MacDonald told the court and asked if his client could be placed on a conditional release order which would afford him some supervision.

Judge Tony Rafter SC noted the youth was almost 17 when he committed the offence and sentenced him to a three month conditional release order.

Noting the teenager had not yet had a conviction recorded against him, Judge Rafter ordered the conviction not be recorded on this occasion.