TWO teenagers at the centre of an alleged holdup of the BP Roadhouse on Warialda Road have been refused bail because they pose a risk to the safety of the community.
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A 16-year-old boy who cannot be named pleaded guilty in Inverell Children’s Court on Wednesday afternoon to robbery armed with an offensive weapon – a day after he was captured by police.
The teenager and his 18-year-old co-accused, Rodney Ruth, were arrested by police at a Girle Street home, just minutes after they allegedly stormed the roadhouse armed with knives.
Police allege the knife-wielding pair threatened the female shop attendant before fleeing with cash and cigarettes.
Ruth fronted Inverell Local Court late Wednesday charged over the robbery and with three other offences – larceny, common assault and obtaining property by deception – following an alleged attempted stealing from a delivery driver on Sunday night.
More charges have since been laid by police after they discovered items recovered from the Girle Street home had allegedly been stolen from a utility in Brae Street during the early hours of Monday.
Police allege the 18-year-old stole these items and also slashed eight tyres on motor vehicles parked near the location.
He has been charged with two counts of malicious damage, steal from a motor vehicle and custody of a knife in a public place.
In court on Wednesday, both teenagers made fresh bids to be released on bail, but were unsuccessful before Magistrate Darryl Pearce.
The court heard the accused posed at least two unacceptable risks if released, endangering the safety of the community and any victims, and the potential for a further serious offence to be committed. During the bail determinations, Magistrate Pearce found no bail conditions listed could mitigate the unacceptable risks.
The 16-year-old will remain in custody ahead of his sentencing in September, while a brief of evidence into Ruth’s case has been ordered before the case returns to court in two months.
Police investigators said they had seized two knives from the Girle Street home as part of the robbery investigation and two other males arrested on Tuesday had been released without charge.