A teenager who threatened to shoot a father in front of his young children during an armed robbery has been sentenced to 17 months in prison.
The 18-year-old, identified only as JPS, pleaded guilty to aggravated armed robbery over the incident at a Kings Meadows home in December last year.
The Supreme Court of Tasmania heard JPS and a 14-year-old accomplice went to the property at 3am to steal a motorcycle.
Both wore face coverings and were armed, JPS with a hammer and the younger boy with bolt cutters.
When the homeowner and his wife confronted them after being woken by their dogs, the pair initially fled but soon returned to take the bike.
Justice Michael Brett said the 14-year-old threatened to bash the owner’s head in, while JPS approached with a hammer raised above his shoulder.
The man’s children, aged five and two, watched the confrontation.
“… One of them asked you not to hurt his dad,” Justice Brett said.
JPS then told the father to go back inside and threatened to “come back with a gun and shoot him” if he called police.
The pair escaped with the motorcycle, which has never been recovered.
JPS was 23 days shy of his 18th birthday at the time.
Justice Brett noted JPS had an “impoverished and difficult childhood”, marked by a drug-addicted mother, early homelessness and his own serious drug issues.
His criminal history began at 13 and includes numerous violent and dishonest offences.
The robbery occurred just a month after he was released on a supervised order for previous crimes, including assault, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
“I am aware of your still youthful age and the fact that you had not turned 18 when you committed this crime, but I also take the view that violent and dishonest offending has become an entrenched pattern of behaviour for you,” Justice Brett said.
“The use of sentencing options emphasising rehabilitation seems to have been unsuccessful.”
He said the seriousness of the case meant it could not be dealt with under youth justice laws.
JPS must serve nine months in custody before the remainder of his sentence is suspended for 18 months.
He will be placed on probation and required to complete drug treatment and aggression-management programs.
