Girls kidnap, attack, rob online ‘dates’

Two teenage girls cried and wailed as they were jailed for kidnapping, robbing and assaulting Christchurch men they met on dating websites.

Drug addiction was involved in the offending by Makayla Young, 16, also known as Hammersley, and Jessee Ann Booth, 17.

Young was picked up at 4.20am on March 25 by a man she contacted on a dating website. As they drove, an unidentified man got in the car and told the victim to drive to New Brighton.

The man then told the victim to stop the car and pulled out a handgun, which he pressed against the victim’s cheek hard enough to break the skin. The victim handed over his wallet and cellphone, worth $1727, which have not been found.

On April 3, both girls were picked up by another online victim. Young punched him six or seven times in the face and told him to hand over $50. Booth was sitting in the back and hit him on the head and neck.

The man got someone to put $50 in his bank account and got them the money. They then told him to get more from an automatic teller, but his card was declined. They made him buy cigarettes

The offending was premeditated and involved weapons and violence.

Judge Paul Kellar

and drink for them at a dairy. They threatened to kill him if he did not pay another $500.

Booth struck him with a screwdriver in the neck, arms, and legs, causing stab wounds. The victim thought he was going to die.

He ran from the car into a bottle store, where he told the staff member to lock the doors and call police. Young and Booth tried to get inside before driving off in his car.

The girls met another online victim on April 6. They made him drive around the city, but he ran from the car at a red light after he was shown a ‘‘shiny object’’ and threatened with being stabbed.

The girls admitted two armed robberies, kidnapping, theft and assault with intent to rob. Young admitted an additional kidnap and robbery. They pleaded guilty in the Youth Court jurisdiction – they were charged there because one was not an adult – but the offending was so serious they were transferred to the Christchurch District Court for sentencing.

Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger said a report showed Young had struggled with synthetic drug use, alcohol and methamphetamine. The report said the causes of the offending were drug use and the propensity for violence that went with it.

Booth’s defence counsel, Tim Mackenzie, said the arrest ended the ‘‘nightmare’’ of her previous life and he had witnessed a change in her since.

She had given birth to a child and was in Christchurch Women’s Prison’s mothers and babies unit. She realised this was the best place for her and did not intend to seek parole when it was due, so she could spend the full two years with her child in the unit.

Judge Paul Kellar said it was serious offending. It was premeditated and involved weapons and violence. The victims were profoundly affected and a lot of the property taken was not recovered.

He gave both girls what he called ‘‘generous’’ reductions for their young ages and their guilty pleas.

He jailed Young for five years and Booth for four years. He refused Young name suppression. Both girls cried in the dock. Wailing could be heard as they were taken to the cells.