Machete robbery rocks Mansfield Hotel

Two teenage boys have pleaded guilty to a “terrifying” attempted robbery of the Mansfield Hotel in Townsville on 20 November 2021.

The pair, now aged 15 and 16, wielded a machete as they attempted to rob the venue and looked to be on a crime spree having stolen a car which an unknown third party was driving.

The incident which was captured by CCTV shows the boys exit a stolen car, parked next to two people outside the hotel about 1am.

The 16-year-old threatened the people with the machete, while the 15-year-old motioned for them to walk inside the Flinders St hotel.

The offenders were arrested shortly after the incident, however there is a history of criminal behaviour.

The 16-year-old also pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted rape of his 11-year-old niece in January 2021 and has a history of sexual offending, including the assault of a middle-aged woman in a busy Townsville shopping arcade.

Prosecutors said the boy was a “high risk” of future sexual offending. He has an intellectual disability and a lack of social awareness and empathy.

The defence pointed out the boy’s exposure to abuse, “significant neglect”, undernourishment, and substance abuse.

Judge Paul Smith questioned the community’s safety if the boy was to be set free.

“It seems to me (there is) a concern of a high risk of sexual offending, and without those reporting requirements, he’s just out there,” Judge Smith said.

The 15-year-old co-offender, who was not armed, was sentenced as a party to the offending. He had breached bail and a curfew during the offence.

“No wonder people don’t come to Townsville as tourists,” Judge Smith said.

The 15-year-old was sentenced to 12 months detention, immediately suspended on a three-month conditional release order.

The 16-year-old was sentenced to a head sentence of two years’ jail.

A conviction was also recorded for the attempted rape charge.

Irit Jackson, 12^th September 2022