No jail time for pair involved in kidnapping

TWO of the four teenagers who kidnapped a Gold Coast nurse, threatened him with a replica gun and put him in a car boot will not spend any time in detention.

The nurse, Joe Brooker, was still in the car when one of the four, released the handbrake, causing the Prius to crash into a wall on December 1, 2017.

The group attacked Mr Brooker when he was on a break at Pindara Private Hospital about 3am that day, they threatened him with a knife and replica gun and ordered him into the car boot.

They then drove him to an ATM and ordered he get out cash before returning him to the car boot.

Mr Brooker was still in the boot when one of the group released the handbrake, allowing the car to roll into a wall.

He was left with bruises and a chipped tooth as well as ongoing psychological issues.

Two of the teens were sentenced in the Southport Children’s Court yesterday on multiple charges including armed robbery, torture and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The teens cannot be named as they were sentenced as children.

Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced one of the boys, who is now 17, to two-and-ahalf years detention to be released on a conditional release order. She also ordered he spend three years on probation.

The second teen, who is now 18, was sentenced to two years detention with immediate release and two-and-a-half years probation.

“It is almost hard to believe that two young men with your background could be descending into such appalling behaviour,” she said.

Nicholas David Dines, 18, was sentenced in September to five years prison and will be eligible for parole on June 1.

The fourth member of the group Kai Swan, who was 18 at the time, is still before the courts. GOLD Coast boaties are being urged to be extra careful on the city’s waterways this long weekend with big crowds expected to get out and about over Easter.

While water police continually crackdown on drink-driving and speeding, new data from RACQ has revealed boaties also need to be more aware of hitting things.

In the last three years, 790 people have made claims through RACQ after crashing into something on Queensland waterways. RACQ spokeswoman Clare Hunter said often it was the smaller “runabouts” that were getting into trouble.

“Our data shows smaller vessels seem to be the most likely to come unstuck with 60 per cent of claims from owners of runabouts and 15 per cent from those with dinghies,” she said.

“From sandbars to piers and other boats, there are loads of obstacles to catch out the unwary or inexperienced.”