Corrective training for pair who robbed boys

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 18

Corrective training for pair who robbed boys

Innocent members of society had to be protected from groups of youths such as the defendants, Mr Justice Tipping told two men who appeared for sentence in the High Court yesterday on a joint charge of aggravated robbery. His Honour sentenced Derek Peter John Shaw, aged 17, and Damian Roderick Ranger, aged 18, both unemployed, to corrective training. Miss Catherine Cull appeared for the Crown, Mr Mervyn Glue for Shaw, and Mr Colin Eason for Ranger.

The Court had heard earlier about an incident on January 30 in which three boys had gone into a New Brighton toilet block to wash their bicycles. Shaw and Ranger, and another man, Steven William Thorne, confronted the boys, forcing one to hand over $4.05. Thome had earlier been sentenced. Miss Cull said aggravating elements in the incident were the ages of the boys, evidence there was a threat to beat the boys up, and the fact it was the middle of the day and in

public toilets.

His Honour said both Shaw and Ranger had substance abuse problems, which was what may have led them to commit the serious offence. He said he would bear in mind their periods spent in custody, their ages, and difficult backgrounds. Mr Glue said Shaw had not been in any serious trouble before, and was an easily influenced, apathetic glue-sniffer. Mr Eason said Ranger had some responsibilities because he had a de facto wife who had had a baby,

now five months old.