A teenager who robbed a Domino’s pizza store of over $500 while armed with a hammer did so to buy his dad a birthday present, the Supreme Court has heard.
“This was not a spontaneous crime,” Justice Robert Pearce said in his passing comments when sentencing the 17-year-old, whose name cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
“You had planned where to park your car, prepared disguises and weapons and driven past a couple of times before going in.”
The teen and another young man, armed with a machete, covered their faces before carrying out the armed robbery at the Kings Meadows store just before 11pm on August 13.
The pair threatened a customer and demanded cash from a staff member before taking off with about $580 in their pockets.
Justice Pearce said police apprehended the boys shortly after the incident, where the teenager admitted he had tried to appear intimidating but had no intention of hurting anyone.
“I think it very likely that you were too immature to fully understand how serious your actions were,” Pearce said
“That is demonstrated by the fact that you thought you could use the money you got to buy your father a birthday present.”
While emphasising the “very serious” nature of the crime that “should generally lead to a sentence of imprisonment”, Justice Pearce instead ordered 140 hours of community service.
“You are still at a stage where hopefully your behaviour and attitude might be turned around for the better,” he said. “Actual detention or imprisonment may have a seriously corrupting and damaging effect on you.”
A conviction for armed robbery was recorded, the seized hammer and machete were forfeited and an 18-month suspended detention order was imposed.
