Bail denied for 16-year-old allegedly involved in ‘terrifying’ attack and robbery in Rangeway

A 16-year old girl who was allegedly part of a group who attacked and robbed a woman in Rangeway, causing her serious injuries, will be detained in Banksia Hill Detention Centre despite a Geraldton magistrate acknowledging the “terrible” situation at the facility. The teenage girl appeared in Geraldton Children’s Court on Monday and was denied bail. Police prosecutor Sgt Ross Gray alleged the girl was part of a group of four who assaulted a 22-year-old victim as she was walking on Sunday. The girl is alleged to have jumped on the woman’s back, pulled her hair and brought her to the ground before the group punched and kicked her. The girl then allegedly smashed a glass smoking implement on the woman, while a co-accused allegedly threw a full bottle of cola at the alleged victim. The attack only ended when members of the public came to the aid of the alleged victim, Sgt Gray said. The group ran off with the woman’s phone, but eventually gave it back to members of the public who followed them, the prosecutor said. The court was told the woman had to be taken to hospital after she was left with cuts, bruises and swelling on her head, face, arms and legs. The girl was later arrested and made admissions to police, according to Sgt Gray. “They (her group) made me do it . . . I needed the phone, mine was cracked,” the girl allegedly said. Sgt Gray opposed bail, stating there was concern the girl would interfere with witnesses, and police had a strong case against her including CCTV and mobile phone footage as well as eye witnesses. He said there was a strong chance she would receive a jail term if convicted. The girl’s lawyer, Fintan Roberts, said the girl was in a difficult situation, with her mother currently absent. Sgt Gray said police had made efforts to find a responsible adult for the girl, with no success. Magistrate Angus Hockton acknowledged her difficult environment, but said the seriousness of the allegations and the strong case of the prosecution meant bail was not appropriate. “I recognise Banksia is a terrible place to be right now . . . however the offending is really serious offending,” he said. “It would have been a terrifying experience for the victim.”

Bail denied for 16-year-old allegedly involved in ‘terrifying’ attack and robbery in Rangeway

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