Second paddle pop teen pleads guilty

A SECOND teen involved in the theft of a giant paddle pop outside Pacific Fair has been labelled “immature” by a Southport magistrate.

Bilal Strickland, 17, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to the theft of the giant Christmas decoration.

He and friend Benjamin Stephen Lessue, 17, took the paddle pop after passing by in their boat last month.

CCTV captured the pair working to knock over the 60kg ice-cream from the river bank outside the shopping centre, before dragging it into their boat.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Douglas Bettany said Strickland and Lessue drove the boat for about five minutes before throwing the $4000 gold popsicle into the water.

Footage of the incident was so grainy it would have been impossible to identify the pair if they had not admitted the theft to police.

Southport Magistrate Doug MacKenzie said the pair clearly did not have a plan when they made off with the paddle pop.

He placed Strickland on a $250 good behaviour bond with no conviction.