A judge has sternly warned a 15-year-old who, along with his younger sister and friend, robbed a bottleshop while armed with knife that he would be facing imprisonment if he had carried out the “very serious crime” as an adult.
The teenager, identified only as PM for legal reasons, stole a total of ten bottles of alcohol worth around $170 from a 9/11 Bottleshop on June 30, 2023.
Acting Supreme Court Justice David Porter said the sister and friend first entered the shop around 6:30pm with their hoodies pulled over their heads and were recognised as being underage by a staff member.
They refused requests to leave and instead began to take alcoholic drinks from the fridge while PM, who had been waiting outside, entered the store and quickly exited with two bottles of bourbon.
Justice Porter said a scuffle then broke out between staff, the sister, friend and a customer as they attempted to run off, leaving his sister blocked in the store.
In response, PM pulled out a fold-out knife with a blade around 9cm long, yelling “Don’t f*****g touch her” at a staff member while threatening to stab them.
Police intercepted the teenagers ten minutes later as they attempted to escape on a bus.
Justice Porter said the teenager had previously “acquired a rather a significant record of offending” for assaults, possession of dangerous articles in public, verbal abuse towards law enforcement and theft, many resulting in community service sentences.
Acknowledging the teenager’s “very traumatic” upbringing marred by frequent domestic violence incidents, Justice Porter said PM is currently enrolled in substance abuse counselling and has plans for a career in construction, aiming to attend TAFE.
“The issue of youths with knives, prepared to use them, is a matter of significant community concern,” he said.
“Shop staff and security are often in vulnerable situations and require the protection of the law.”
“You need to put yourself in those people’s places and just imagine how you would feel. Aggravated armed robbery is a very serious crime.”
“As an adult you would be facing imprisonment. If you continue to behave in the way you have over the last year or two you will inevitably be put in to detention or later, as an adult, in prison.”
The teenager was convicted under the Youth Justice Act and given 12 months to complete 100 hours of community service.
