Siblings’ shocking history

Teenage brother and sister in court for car theft and robbery offences

A 14-year-old with a criminal history that includes unlawful use of 13 cars appeared in the Townsville Children’s Court on charges relating to unlawful use of another three vehicles.

Sally* and her older brother Steve*, 16, both pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including unlawful use of motor vehicles and stealing.

Sally sat quietly in the dock chewing her fingernails while the court heard of her extensive list of car thefts, including the latest three vehicles, taken over an 18-hour period.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Andrew Walklate said in the first incident, at 2.30am on July 24 last year, a stolen vehicle containing Sally and Steve and others, backed into a car.

He said the car’s owner was ordered from her vehicle, grabbed by her hair and pulled to the ground before they stole the woman’s car.

In the vehicle were a number of items that the teenagers stole, including $1000 cash.

“Twelve hours later a 42year-old driver heading to the gym was overtaken by the group in the stolen car,” Mr Walklate said.

“They yelled at her and she wisely locked the car, which they then hit with a metal implement.”

Mr Walklate said a short time later, a 73-year-old woman, with her handbag draped over her shoulder, was loading goods into her car in a shopping centre carpark.

The court heard Sally and Steve drove up, and Sally reached out the open window and snatched the woman’s handbag.

It had a number of items inside including $100 cash.

He said finally the pair bailed up a male in another carpark, ordered him from his vehicle, then stole his Rav 4.

The female victim of the first car theft and robbery asked the court for permission to read her victim impact statement.

In her statement, the woman said she was scared for months after the theft and still had flashbacks from the incident.

“When I see someone walking past me I’m afraid of what they’re going to do and I’m scared every time I park my car,” she said.

Defence barrister Kelly Stone agreed Sally had a long criminal history that also included offences of violence.

He said she had spent 154 days in pre-sentence custody and had reacted positively since that experience.

He explained that her truancy record had been appalling but had now improved from nine to 30 per cent school attendance.

Steve’s lawyer Ross Malcolmson said Sally’s brother had a lesser criminal history and had only spent 39 days in pre-sentence custody.

Judge Dennis Lynch KC warned the siblings that if they continued to steal cars and belongings they would face long jail sentences in the future.

He sentenced both of them to 18 months’ probation.

*Not their real names