Scooter bash in crime tear

A FORMER tradie bashed a man riding an electric scooter through Surfers Paradise and declared “it’s my scooter now” in a terrifying public robbery.

The robbery was part of Texas O’Toole’s year-long crime spree which included a group bashing of a nightclub security guard, throwing a sandwich and spitting at police officer and driving a stolen car into a light pole.

The 20-year-old was released from prison Wednesday.

O’Toole pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to 16 charges including robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced O’Toole to three years’ prison with immediate parole release. He has served about nine and a half months in pre-sentence custody. “I’m giving you a chance today,” she said. “I won’t do it again, the parole authorities certainly won’t do it. This is the only time you will get this benefit from the court.”

Judge Holliday described the spree as “clearly serious”.

Prosecutor Amelia Baker-Smith said O’Toole’s offending started in September 2020 and ran until December 2021.

The first incident involved O’Toole and a group of others attacking a bouncer at a Surfers Paradise nightclub.

The group kicked and punched the bouncer before stealing his radio. Ms BakerSmith said O’Toole later told police the thought he was “doing the right thing”.

On April 12 last year, O’Toole got into an argument with a man who sold him a motorcycle before grabbing his arm from behind and hitting him in the face while holding a cigarette.

Four months later on September 4, 2021 O’Toole was getting an assessment in the Gold Coast University Hospital when he threw a sandwich at the police officer assisting them and then spat on their uniform.

Weeks later he drove a stolen car into a light pole in Surfers Paradise.

The E-scooter incident happened on November 17 last year when O’Toole spotted a man riding through Surfers Paradise.

O’Toole approached him and punched the man repeatedly.

The man begged O’Toole to let him keep the scooter as it was his mate’s ride. “It’s my scooter now,” O’Toole replied. The 20-year-old then took the scooter and was spotted on CCTV putting it into a stolen car.

On December 9, O’Toole was spotted dangerous driving a stolen car which included almost hitting a police car, driving on the wrong side of the road and ignoring traffic lights.

He was caught by police that night. O’Toole, who has completed an apprenticeship, plans to live with his father on a Lismore farm upon release.