Jail for teen robber

ONE of three teenagers involved in a violent home invasion, in which the victim had a knife held to his throat, has been jailed for three years.

Jordan Thomas Himstedt, who turned 19 in jail this week, was with two juvenile male associates who donned gloves and black surgical masks before climbing the fence of a home in Hamilton, Brisbane, on October 9, last year, and breaking into the house, Toowoomba District Court heard.

Once inside, one of the juveniles pointed a knife at the male occupant and demanded cash and keys to the couple’s car, Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie told the court.

When one of the other two intruders went to reach for a knife on a shelf, the homeowner beat him to it, prompting the juvenile with the knife to hold the blade to the man’s throat, she said.

Seeing this, the man’s wife screamed and the knife wielding juvenile told her “Shut up, all I want is keys and cash”.

The teenage trio grabbed the keys and left, driving off in the couple’s vehicle, Ms Petrie said.

The stolen car was found abandoned the next morning and police investigations led to the trio, with Himstedt arrested on October 21, 2021.

He has had been held in custody since, the court heard.

Ms Petrie said Himstedt had no criminal history.

Himstedt pleaded guilty to burglary, armed robbery in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Ms Petrie said the victim couple was overseas at the moment so the Crown did not have a victim impact statement but the incident would have been a “terrifying experience” for them.

Himstedt’s barrister Jessica Goldie told the court her client was born in Toowoomba but grew up in Hervey Bay where he completed Year 11 at school.

However, he had started using cannabis at 16 and meth at 17 and eventually left his family in Hervey Bay.

He moved to Brisbane where he spent time homeless or couch surfing and using drugs which had increased in the lead up to this event when his grandfather died, Ms Goldie said.

It was Himstedt’s intention to move back to Hervey Bay upon his release from jail and look for a job, Ms Goldie said.

Judge Katherine McGuinness sentenced Himstedt to three years in jail but, declaring the 201 days (six and a half months) he had spent in presentence custody as time served under the sentence ordered he be released on parole immediately.

The two juveniles were yet to be dealt with by the court.