A COROWA youth described yesterday by a magistrate as having “extreme behavioural issues” was sentenced to a 14-month control order without conviction for the attempted armed robbery of an Albury taxi driver in February.
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Magistrate Tony Murray set a minimum term of six months when the youth, 14, appeared in Albury Children’s Court through a video link from Reiby juvenile detention centre for sentencing.
At the time of confronting the taxi driver with a knife, the youth was recently released on parole for an armed robbery in East Albury and a similar offence at a Corowa florist last year.
The taxi driver went to Eastern Circuit about 11.28pm on February 2 and three passengers got in his vehicle with the youth sitting in the front.
After driving a short distance, the driver pulled over to the side of the road when he became concerned about payment due to the evasiveness of his passengers in requesting their required destination.
The youth put his right hand into a pants pocket and pulled out a knife, described by the driver as being about the length of a pen.
Both passengers in the back of the taxi got out.
The youth started to get out, put his knee on the seat and raised the knife, which was pointed towards the victim’s face.
It was about 30 centimetres from the victim’s face and the youth said: “Give me your money, give me your wallet, give me your mobile.”
The driver took out his wallet and phone before he started to negotiate with the youth, who continued to make demands.
But the driver took an opportunity to put the taxi into drive and accelerate from the scene, leaving the youth and the other two people standing at the edge of the road.
The driver went straight to the police station, the taxi was forensically examined and video footage was downloaded.
Solicitor Kate Bleasel said the offence had “low objective seriousness”, but the victim was vulnerable.
Ms Bleasel suggested the youth has good prospects of rehabilitation considering his age.
She said he has mental health issues which have been deteriorating while he is in custody.
The youth also appeared for sentencing on three counts of assaulting law officers while in custody.
Mr Murray imposed fixed terms of three months on each of the charges without conviction, and ordered the youth to accept counselling when released.
