An East Albury teenager who with two mates attacked and robbed a couple of teenagers who had just been to carols by candlelight was so drunk police could not interview him until the next morning.
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Max Lunardi-Leahy has been held in jail bail refused since the attack last December 23 about 9pm and there he will remain until he is paroled on October 22.
That came after Albury Local Court magistrate Rodney Brender sentenced him to 18 months' jail, with a minimum of 10 months, having pleaded guilty to affray and stealing.
A good Samaritan joined the 16-year-old victims in pursuing the group by car, then was punched by one of Lunardi-Leahy's accomplices.
When they caught up with them, the man got out of the car and told them the police had been called.
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"As soon as my client saw police, he immediately sat down," defence lawyer Graham Lamond said.
Police said Lunardi-Leahy and one of his accomplices, already sentenced in the Albury Children's Court, were taken to Albury police station.
The third male fled.
"Both offenders were significantly affected by alcohol and/or drugs," police said.
This meant Lunardi-Leahy, 19, was not in a fit state to be interviewed until almost 10 hours later at 7.30am.
The former Myrtleford youth's six months in custody, Mr Lamond said, represented his first-ever jail spell.
After attending the carols in Albury's QEII Square, the victims began walking east along Dean Street just before 9pm then turned into David Street to go to the Woolworths supermarket at Myer Centrepoint.
As they passed some shops, the victims were confronted by the trio.
"You guys got any cash?" Lunardi-Leahy asked them.
When one said he only had a bank card, Lunardi-Leahy replied: "Ah, you can get cash out or you can give me your card."
"No, I'm good," the boy shot back.
Lunardi-Leahy took hold of the strap of a bag over the shoulder of one of the boys and after a struggle, took the bag.
Inside was a wallet with bank cards, personal papers and a USB charger.
A co-offender punched one of the boys in the face and, as he crouched on the ground, tried to kick him.
The stranger intervened and the trio ran off towards the Regent Cinemas car park.
Police arrested two of them near the corner of Macauley and Swift streets.
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