Geraldton teenager sentenced for attacking woman in the middle of the day because she wanted a new phone

A Geraldton teenage girl has been sentenced to detention over a random mob-bashing and robbery of a woman in broad daylight, all because her phone was cracked and she wanted a new one. The 16-year-old girl appeared in Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday for sentencing for an aggravated armed robbery charge, for which she had previously pleaded guilty. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Paul White told the court the victim was a 22-year-old woman who was walking down the street in Rangeway at 1.30pm on June 11. He said the teenage offender was walking in a group with four other people when the woman walked past them. The court was told the teen jumped on the woman, pulling her hair and pushing her to the ground. The teenager began punching the woman on the ground while others were kicking her, trying to get the victim’s phone as she held on to it. One of the members of the group smashed a glass smoking apparatus across the victim’s head while they were beating her, before the group was chased off by members of the public. Sen. Const. White said a member of the public chased the teenager down and recovered the victim’s phone. The victim was taken to hospital with numerous cuts and bruises to her head, face and body. Police arrested the teenager later that day and when asked why she did it, her response was: “I need a phone, mine was cracked.” The girl’s lawyer, Fintan Roberts, said it was a serious robbery, but the girl pleaded guilty and had shown willingness to engage, claiming she has been engaging in schooling while in custody and accepted her offending. Sen. Const. White told the court this was “one of the most serious offences you can commit”. He said the teenager had received detention for two robberies last year and had her release order cancelled after only being on parole for a few weeks. Sen. Const. White said the attack and robbery had affected the victim. “This is a robbery that has occurred during the day time on a busy street . . . there would be psychological impact on the victim” he said. The court was told the teenager had incidents of poor behaviour in detention and showed no remorse towards the victim. “Clearly detention is the only option and we need to increase the deterrents,” Sen. Const. White said. Magistrate Angus Hockton reinforced the seriousness of the offending, saying an aggravated armed robbery could carry life imprisonment. Mr Hockton further supported the police’s claims by saying reports to the court indicated the girl had shown no remorse or regret for her actions. “When you did what you did, you weren’t thinking about the consequences,” he said. “She was a vulnerable victim, she was outnumbered and threatened with glass. “All because you thought you were entitled to her phone, and you’re not. . . if you want a phone then you get a job and save money.” Mr Hockton sentenced the teenager to five months of immediate detention. “I will reduce the sentence but I am not backdating it,” he said.