Teen sentenced after hotel raid
A BABY-FACED teenager showed no emotion as he was yesterday sentenced to jail for breaking into a Rockhampton bottle shop and stealing alcohol.
Police said they found Zac Jason Henry and several of his alleged co-offenders with the stolen alcohol bottles, some of which were empty, at a house only hours after the Sunday night burglary of the Post Office Hotel.
After 17 burglaries within two years, hotel venue manager Amanda McKinnon said this theft had been the worst.
CCTV footage of the burglary showed a gang of 11 people smash a window and steal $2500 of alcohol within 40 seconds.
At 17 years old, Henry is the oldest of seven teens already charged for their alleged involvement. He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court yesterday.
Magistrate Cameron Press commented on Henry's criminal history, saying it appeared he had not got the message after receiving probation and detention when he appeared in Children's Court for other offences.
The solicitor representing Henry, Anthony De Fraine, said his client was young and suggested Mr Press order boundaries for the teen rather than sending him to jail.
But Mr Press told Henry he was an adult now and "this is serious stuff". Mr Press sentenced the teen to three months jail, to be released after one month.
Ms McKinnon said people had had enough of juvenile crime. "At least they've done something about it," she said.
