SST Says Latest Teenager Attack Has to Be a Wake up Call

7th September 2016

“they had weapons and all ran into that shop together, armed and dressed for robbery, those little buggers knew exactly what they were doing – and should be held to account." Jess McVicar

On Monday afternoon 6 teenagers unlawfully entered the shop of Sunhail Patel.

One teen was wielding an axe which they used to swing at Mr Patel and continuously hit him. Another had a crow bar!

Sensible Sentencing Trust youth advocate Jess McVicar says she is shocked, but not surprised, by this latest attack. "These teens knew what they wanted and how they were going to get it - this was a planned attack and I can guarantee they did not care who was in there or who they harmed"

One staff member was pinned in a corner and kicked in the face.

Jess says “According to certain research these teenagers wouldn't have really known what they were doing was wrong or that they could have caused harm but I say absolute BULL on that - they had weapons and all ran into that shop together, all dressed prepared for a robbery, those little buggers knew exactly what they were doing ."

Justice minister Anne Tolley is calling for a law change in youth court age asking for the age to be risen to 17 years old but Sensible Sentencing are asking for them to think seriously about this saying this is just going to cause more young offenders.

But Jess says "If these latest offenders are tried under the youth court they will only be having a family conference, perhaps write an apology to the family and staff of the shop but that's not going to help their 6 year old daughter, who saw her father being viciously attacked, get over the anxiety she is having, she will now be scared for her life for a long time.”

“Meantime these offenders will be walking free on the streets eyeing up the next attack, they have shown they have no respect for the law or for others property."

Jess says “they were already on bail conditions - so they had already had charges for a previous offense, they are not going to stop."

Jess says “these teens need to be tried in an adult court and held fully to account for their actions, they want to play big person then they get treated like it. They need to be found guilty of all charges so it stays on their record and they have to earn respect back, then they need to be put to work.”
“Put them in drains and clean the rubbish out, put them in our streams cleaning the crap out - get them off the street and put to work.”
“They need to held accountable for their actions now before they attack again"

Five teenagers have been charged with aggravated robbery, injuring with intent and breaching bail.

ENDS

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