Time in custody is enough

A TEENAGER who held up a Toowoomba service station while armed with a can of soft-drink has been released from custody.

Dain Joseph Harper, who turned 18 last month while in custody for the offence, and a 16-year-old juvenile boy entered the United Service Station on Cohoe St late on Sunday August 5, and made for the soft-drink fridge.

The store’s CCTV cameras captured the pair walking toward the counter where a can of soft-drink was thrown, striking the counter attendant in the face and forcing him to retreat to a staff room.

The juvenile accomplice then jumped the counter and stole about $300 in cigarettes before the pair fled, Toowoomba District Court heard.

Harper was identified on the CCTV footage and a police search of his home found a bag of stolen packets of cigarettes, Crown prosecutor Noel Needham told the court.

The teen pleaded guilty to armed robbery while in company and to offences arising from entering a number of Grand Central food court stores after closing time on August 1.

Harper’s barrister Robbie Davies told the court the month spent in custody had been a wake-up call for his client, who did not want to return to prison.

Noting he was just 17 at the time of all offences, Judge Deborah Richards sentenced Harper to two years jail but ordered he be released immediately on parole and complete 180 hours of community service.

The juvenile co-accused is yet to be dealt with by the Children’s Court.