A teenager who robbed a Launceston bottle shop on instruction from his “pro-criminal peer group” has walked away from the Supreme Court without a conviction.
The unidentified 17-year-old pleaded guilty to armed robbery following the incident on May 18.
Acting Justice David Porter said the teen entered the store armed with a screwdriver and wearing a balaclava while intoxicated, having previously stolen alcohol from another business earlier in the day.
The teenager then threatened to stab a security guard while being asked to leave the store, saying “come near me and I will stab you”.
He then walked to an aisle, picked up some fruit juice, five bottles of alcohol and jumped the entry gate to leave the store, dropping a bottle of alcohol as he did so.
Police were called and found the defendant fleeing the scene. He was located hiding nearby, arrested and held overnight due to his intoxication.
“He said that he was told to commit the armed robbery by other youths who had been pressuring him to offend and he was fearful that if he did not comply, he would be bashed,” Justice Porter said.
“He was given a screwdriver by one of the other youths, and very shortly after leaving the store he gave the alcohol and screwdriver back to the group of youths.”
“He said that he did not intend on harming anyone.”
“He acknowledged that he could have gone to the shop and walked out and run away but said he did not think he could outrun the group, some of whom were on scooters.”
The judge said the defendant has no prior criminal record and had been staying with friends or living on the streets in a tent near the city centre.
He said the teenager began associating with a “pro-criminal peer group” and had witnessed acts of violence carried out by its members.
Justice Porter said that while armed robbery is a serious crime, he would not record a conviction against the teenager.
“The application of the principles of youth justice is moderated the more serious the offending,” he said.
“I note [the security guard] did not suffer any physical injury and after some counselling seems to have fully recovered from the emotional shock.”
“I also note the relatively low value of the goods stolen, although it is the means by which they were stolen which is the essence of the criminality.”
Instead, he imposed a Community Service Order requiring the defendant to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
The teenager was told not to drink alcohol or use controlled substances, including cannabis, while completing the order.
