Bail for teens on daylight assault

TWO teenage boys accused of assaulting and robbing a woman in a Toowoomba dog park have been granted bail.

Detectives from the Toowoomba Child Protection and Investigation Unit charged a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old on Sunday following investigations into the alleged robbery of a 35-year-old woman in Ruthven Street on August 23.

Police claim the woman had been out walking her two dogs before allegedly being approached by three teenage boys about 5.20pm at the offleash dog park.

The teens are alleged to have surrounded the woman and threatened her with sticks they picked up in the park, allegedly hitting her and pushing her to the ground.

Police claim the teens then stole the woman’s mobile phone, credit cards and car keys before fleeing in her blue 2010 Audi A1 hatchback which has since been recovered.

The 17-year-old boy was granted watch house bail after his arrest on Sunday.

The 14-year-old spent the night in the watch house before appearing in the Toowoomba Children’s Court on Monday where his solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide, of McConnell and Saldumbide Lawyers, applied for bail on his behalf.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheatley said the woman hurt her shoulder when she was pushed to the ground and the injury was so serious she would require surgery.

The two teenagers have been charged with robbery in company, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and grievous bodily harm.

Neither has been required to enter any pleas to their respective charges.

Ms Saldumbide told the court her client’s case would have to go up to the Children’s Court of Queensland, and if he wasn’t granted bail he may spent more time in custody than he would get at sentence.

Her client would live with his grandmother in Goondiwindi away from peers in Toowoomba, she said.

Magistrate Graham Lee granted bail on condition the 14-year-old abide by a conditional bail program, live with his grandmother in Goondiwindi and report to police each Monday.

Police were yet to identify the alleged third co-accused.