Teen’s life on track

A TOOWOOMBA teenager who went off the rails and committed a series of offences while living with friends had not reoffended in the year since returning to live with family.

The city’s Magistrate Court heard Reuben James Rawson had been involved with associates in two burglaries in Toowoomba during which keys to cars were stolen and used to take the victims’ cars on June 20 and 24 last year.

Police prosecutor Natalie Bugden told the court one burglary was committed while the 2011 Jeep Cherokee owner and his wife were asleep inside and they had woken when hearing the car being driven out of the driveway.

The other car stolen was a 2015 Audi Q3 which was used in a $55 fuel drive off from a Coles Express service station, Sergeant Bugden said.

Police who attended the South St unit at which Rawson was living at the time in July last year had smelt cannabis burning as they approached the flat, prompting officers to search the residence.

Small amounts of cannabis along with scissors used for chopping up leaf and pipes for smoking the drug were found during the search, she said.

Rawson pleaded guilty to a total 17 offences including two counts each of burglary and unlawfully using cars, eight drug related matters and three breaches of bail.

His solicitor Matt Gemmell, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, told the court his client was 19 now but 18 at the time of all offences.

His client at the time of offending had been living with and running with “undesirables” who he no longer associated with, he said.

The teenager had since returned to live with his grandfather, who was in court supporting him, and he had no further offences, Mr Gemmell said.

The significant delay in having the matters dealt with by the court was due to COVID-19 restrictions since last year as well as having a mental health report prepared, he said.

Acting Magistrate Roger Stark noted Rawson had no previous criminal history at all.

“You seem to have got your life back on track,” he told the teenager.

Mr Stark placed Rawson on two years probation to include random testing for illicit substances and ordered he pay $55 restitution for the stolen fuel.

Mr Stark ordered the convictions not be recorded.