Boy high-fived friend as man brutally bashed

A 13-YEAR-OLD child used a broomstick and high-fived a friend during a brutal attack on a stranger when trying to take his mobile phone, a court was told.

The teenager pleaded guilty in the Children’s Court of Queensland at Southport yesterday to attempted robbery and attempted stealing.

He did not have any parents in the court when he was placed on 12 months probation for the crimes.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was part of a group of three juveniles who demanded a phone from a man using a mobile phone on the Gold Coast in April last year.

The boy, and his two friends, then bashed the man until he was on the ground.

The court was told the boy grabbed a nearby broomstick and used that to hit the man.

After he punched the man, the boy high-fived another one of the attackers.

The group only ran off after a security guard spotted them and sounded an alarm.

Police found the group hours later on a train to Brisbane.

Weeks earlier the same boy had tried to take a mountain bike which was parked outside of a Domino’s pizza restaurant.

When the bike’s owner, another child, tried to get the bike back the boy threatened to bash him.

The bike’s owner managed to wrestle the bike off the boy and ride off.

“The offending was unprovoked and it is concerning as it appears to have escalated,” prosecutor Amelia BakerSmith told the court.

Judge Katherine McGinness placed the boy on probation for 12 months.

“I really hope you start realising you have an opportunity to have a better life than you are having at the moment,” she said. “I do wish you all the best with that and try to make an effort so you don’t have to spend any more time in detention.”

Judge McGinness said the boy was previously involved in other crimes such as driving cars dangerously, stealing petrol and driving stolen cars.

She warned him that the community “does not need to put up with” his behaviour.

Defence barrister Sarah Thompson, instructed by Bamberry Lawyers, said the boy had moved to the Gold Coast from Perth in 2017.

She said earlier this year he was diagnosed with childhood emotional disorder and has previously had suicidal thoughts.

I REALLY HOPE YOU START REALISING YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE

JUDGE KATHERINE MCGINNESS