A 15-year-old robbed a 16-year-old of his phone with a knife. He received a referral order instead of detention.
The court said prison would be certain for an adult. The teen had prior life struggles. The court decided against detention. They gave him a 12-month referral order.
A panel will decide the order’s terms. The victim was 16 years old. He left a Co-op store around 5:30 PM on November 25.
He was walking home when he was chased. The 15-year-old and another person chased him. They cornered him in an alleyway.
The 15-year-old asked about valuables. He threatened to stab the victim. He patted the victim’s pockets and stole the phone.
The victim tried to escape his attacker. The defendant started a fight. The defendant grabbed the victim, pushing him against a wall.
The victim had head and face injuries. He suffered grazing, bruising, and cuts. The incident left him shaken and upset.
The defense lawyer spoke for the defendant. He stated bereavement impacted the teen’s development. A report called him polite and honest.
The court chairman spoke to the defendant. He stated this robbery was serious. Adult offenders serve prison time for this crime. He imposed the referral order since the defendant is working with specialists.