14-year-old’s 131 charges in 12 months are a youth crime ‘wake up call’, SA Liberals say

Details of 131 charges laid against an SA child have been revealed and the Opposition have labelled it “an absolute mockery of the justice system.”

A South Australian child who racked up 131 criminal charges, including multiple assaults, home invasions and drug offences, in one year allegedly breached their bail conditions or bond obligations 34 times during that time, the youth’s charge sheet reveals.

Details of the 14-year-old alleged repeat offender’s 12 months of terror have been laid bare in shocking documents released by the Courts Administration Authority under Freedom of Information laws.

The Opposition, who obtained the documents, says serial youth offenders are “making an absolute mockery of the justice system” and the child’s extensive charge sheet should serve as a “wake-up call” for the state government.

The documents show in the 2023/24 financial year, the child was charged with:

40 counts of dishonestly taking property without consent.

24 counts of breaching their bail conditions.

15 counts of interfering with a motor vehicle without consent.

10 counts of unlawful possession.

10 counts of failing to comply with bond conditions.

6 counts of damaging a building or motor vehicle (not graffiti), and

6 counts of aggravated assault with a weapon.

The youth was also charged with two counts of serious criminal trespass in residential properties while occupants were home.

Other charges included possessing drugs and drug equipment, damaging property, property theft, car theft and hindering police.

Opposition police spokesman Jack Batty. Picture: Morgan Sette

Liberal police spokesman Jack Batty, who described the charge sheet as one that would put alleged adult offenders to shame, said it was particularly concerning the child had been charged with so many counts of breaching bail conditions and bond obligations.

“How many of these 131 alleged offences could have been prevented if there had been a proper intervention?” he said.

“Kids that commit crime and then get released on bail only to go and commit more crime are making an absolute mockery of the justice system.”

Mr Batty said the alleged crime spree showed the government “can’t even handle a junior high juvenile”.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: RoyVPhotography.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the force had “made no secret of their frustration at dealing with recidivism among a relatively small cohort of youth offenders who are committing serious crimes”.

“A key aim of the Young Offenders Act is to minimise a child’s interaction with the justice system while at the same time adequately protecting the community against wrongful acts,” he said.

“While the vast majority of youths dealt with under the Act respond positively, it is clear that some recidivist offenders do not abide by rulings and decisions made by the Youth Court and they continue to offend and pose a risk to community safety.

“In such cases there is a need for intervention to prevent these children from committing further crime and mitigating risk to the community from their actions.”

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the opposition was playing catch-up. Picture: Ben Clark

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said it seemed the Liberals were “playing catch up”.

He said the government last month released its Young Offender Plan, which aims to strengthen bail laws for serious repeat young offenders, increase penalties for those with extensive criminal histories and give police greater powers to combat youth street gangs.

The government will also inject $3 million into programs to help young offenders break the cycle of reoffending.

“South Australia has the second lowest youth offender rate in the nation,” Mr Maher said.

“However, we know more work is needed to ensure South Australia remains ahead of the curve.”

The Advertiser reported in February that new courts data had revealed almost 25,000 children or teenagers had been charged with a crime over the past five financial years.

This included more than 30 children aged 10, 11 or 12 who faced serious sexual offence allegations.

SA TEEN’S 131 CHARGES IN 12 MONTHS

- 40 Dishonestly taking property without consent (basic offence)

- 24 Failing to comply with bail agreement

- 15 Interfere with a motor vehicle without consent

- 10 Unlawful possession

- 10 Fail to comply with a bond obligation

- 6 Damaging a building or motor vehicle (not graffiti or unknown)

- 6 Aggravated committing assault, other circumstance, with weapon

- 4 Possessing cannabis, cannabis resin or cannabis oil

- 3 Possessing equipment for cannabis use or preparation

- 2 Aggravated dishonestly taking property without consent

- 2 Damaging property, not a building or motor vehicle (not graffiti or fire)

- 2 Serious criminal trespass, residence occupied, aggravated

- 1 Driving or using a motor vehicle without consent

- 1 Hindering police

- 1 Committing theft using force (aggravated offence)

- 1 Dishonestly dealing with property without consent (basic offence)

- 1 Possessing equipment to use with a controlled drug (not cannabis)

- 1 Trespassing in a residence (basic offence)

- 1 Serious criminal trespass (non-residential, basic offence)