Judge’s epic spray at ‘privileged’ private schoolboy who ended up in court on armed robbery charges and worships misogynist Andrew Tate
A private school boy who committed a series of serious offences has been reprimanded by a judge, who told the 16-year-old he could still make something of his life if he stopped behaving like an “idiot”.
Judge Michael Burnett delivered the lecture as he sentenced the teenager on eight charges including attempted armed robbery in company and burglary in company with destruction of property in Brisbane Children’s Court on July 5.
The boy previously pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery in company, unlawful use of a gray Kia Optima and theft of fuel from gas stations from passing cars.
Prosecutor Tom O’Brien told the hearing the teen turned to crime after taking up bodybuilding and possibly “being on social media too much, including with misogynist” Andrew Tate.
The boy left home at 15 to live with his “child gangster buddies”, started taking the drug ice and received “praise” on social media for the group’s criminal antics, according to his defence lawyer Allana Davie.
Ms Davie said the boy’s criminal behaviour was the result of a “perfect storm” of factors including his parents’ divorce and problems at school, including bullying.
However, Judge Burnett said the “middle class” boy showed a “lack of gratitude” for the privileges he had received from his parents.
“Your parents have made enormous sacrifices, which I would expect would be to pay for the private school fees they have paid over the years to help you,” Judge Burnett told him, according to the courier post.
Queensland Judge Michael Burnett (pictured) has given a stern telling-off to a teenage private school boy who committed a series of serious crimes
“It is a very poor recognition of the effort your parents have made.”
The judge said he understood the boy’s father had “a somewhat toxic attitude” towards his mother, but said the defendant had to realise his mother was still “trying to create a home” and support him and his three half-siblings.
Judge Burnett did not accept the defense’s argument that the boy’s behavior was the result of bullying.
“You were probably acting more like an idiot than being bullied,” he told the suspect.
You just have to accept it. If you act like an idiot, you can expect to be called out on it. Don’t call it bullying.’
The judge went on to say that bullying is “just part of life, get used to it.”
“We all know that life is hard for young men,” Judge Burnett said.
‘But much of what is called bullying isn’t bullying at all. It’s people reacting to inappropriate social behavior.
‘Sometimes that means you just have to swallow it and reflect on your behavior. Do you understand that?
“Yes,” the boy replied.
“And do you agree that this is what you should do?” the judge pressed.
‘Of course.’
The suspect pleaded guilty to a two-page criminal record in Richlands Juvenile Court on November 9 where he was given an order for restorative justice.
This measure has not yet been implemented, because the boy has already been held in a juvenile detention center for seven months.
The court heard the boy had begun idolising ‘woman-hating’ social media star Andrew Tate (pictured) and had received ‘praise’ on social media for his group’s abusive actions.
The teenager’s story involves pointing a gun and threatening a man who confronted him about urinating in a car park at Brookside shopping centre in Mitchelton in Brisbane’s northwest in September.
His latest conviction involved him pointing a gun from the window of a stolen car at a 14-year-old boy at a bus stop near Maroochydore at 7.30am on September 4 last year and demanding he hand over his phone.
Despite the victim being only three meters away, he was able to run away.
Police found a photo on his friend’s phone of the boy posing with the same weapon.
“We don’t know whether the gun was loaded or not, but that doesn’t matter,” Judge Burnett said as he sentenced the boy to 18 months probation.
“The fact remains that when you pulled up next to that young man, you leaned out the window (of the stolen car) and apparently cocked your weapon and demanded that he hand over his phone.”
“I have 40 years of experience in the military. When you use a weapon, the intent is to use it, that’s what it means.”
The boy also pleaded guilty to taking part in two tanker truck accidents during the September crime spree.
On January 10, he and a co-defendant entered a home in Brisbane and threatened the occupant with a six-inch knife and a cricket bat, before taking the keys to his Kia Optima.
Judge Burnett recorded no convictions and encouraged the teen to follow in the footsteps of decorated war hero Mark Donaldson, whether he still wanted to join the SAS or other elite forces, as he had previously indicated.
Judge Michael Burnett said the boy should follow the example of Mark Donaldson, who won the Victoria Cross as a teenager despite his brushes with the law
“There is a man who has won the Victoria Cross, Donaldson, who has had a similar experience to yours. He won the Victoria Cross in Afghanistan about 10 years ago,” Judge Burnett said.
As a teenager, Mr Donaldson was forced to spend a night in a jail cell after his father decided to teach him a lesson after he and some friends stole a car. detonators from a marshalling yard and detonate them in a park.
According to Judge Burnett, such redemption was possible for the boy if he “made an effort” and “proved in the coming period that he was a good citizen and did something positive with his life.”
The boy had to give his ‘supportive parents’ the ‘“I want to show them the necessary respect and acknowledge the efforts they have made to help him as best as possible,” he continued.
“You certainly have potential. I understand that you don’t like education, but there are plenty of opportunities,” the judge said.
‘All you have to do is find out what you like and what you are good at, and go for it.’