Adelaide teen faces 15 years in jail after confessing to terror charges

A boy, 15, is facing a 15-year prison term having admitted he is the state's youngest-ever terrorist.

A teenager has pleaded guilty to terrorism offences including teaching bomb-making and swearing an oath to serve Islamic State and will be sentenced as an adult, not a child.

In the Youth Court on Monday, the boy, 15, entered guilty pleas to seven charges ranging from possessing and distributing extremist material through to possessing documents that could be used for a terrorist attack.

By his pleas, the boy - whose identity is suppressed under state law - faces up to 15 years' jail.

The pleas follow a decision by Youth Court Senior Judge Penny Eldridge on October 31 to grant SA Police’s application to have the boy dealt with by the adult courts.

She said the “gravity” of the charges against the boy was sufficiently serious to warrant an adult penalty that would deter like-minded youths.

Prior to Her Honour's decision, the boy had already confessed in court to the offending in order to preserve a sentencing discount allowed by legislation.

During that hearing on October 20, the boy – who appeared by video link – smiled and swung his chair back and forth with his hands folded in his lap.

At that time counsel for the boy told the Youth Court their client would plead guilty to all charges laid against him and fully accepted the wrongfulness of his actions.

They said he conceded he had possessed extremist material, provided bomb-making instruction to others via the internet and spoken the Bay’ah – the Islamic State pledge of allegiance.

Those admissions make the teenager the youngest self-confessed terrorist in South Australian legal history.

Defence counsel had urged the court to deal with him as a child – permitting only a three-year term.

They argued he had positive signs of rehabilitation, despite the fact he “does not accept he has been radicalised”.

Aimee Winra, prosecuting, said she doubted that was the case, noting the offending to which the boy had confessed began when he was just 14 years old.

“There was an incident in the youth training centre in the last two weeks that would suggest otherwise,” she said.

A hand-drawn version of the Islamic State flag was found in the teenager’s room, at a youth detention centre, in the past fortnight. Picture: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP

“A search of his room found drawings he had made of the Islamic State flag.”

The boy had been charged with two counts of possessing supplies, or taking steps in, the manufacture of an explosive.

Court documents alleged those offences took place at South Plympton on March 15 and 16 this year.

He was further charged with possessing a document or record of information necessary for a terrorist attack.

Court documents alleged that offence occurred at South Plympton between January 14 and February 6 this year.

Since his arrest in March, the boy’s case has been conducted in near-blanket secrecy, with police claiming any public disclosure would “severely compromise” investigations.

In August, prosecutors said they wanted the boy tried as an adult – a move opposed by defence counsel.

On October 20, Chris Weir, for the boy, said a trial would no longer be required.

“The youth will plead guilty to the charges … the situation has resolved quite recently, and I’ve just had the opportunity to inform the prosecution,” he said.

He said he wanted time to negotiate the final wording of the charges with Ms Winra.

“I might add that (the boy) accepts the full factual basis of the charges.”

Ms Winra said that, regardless of the negotiations, the boy’s case should still move to the District Court – which can impose up to 15 years’ jail.

“These charges are designed to intercept and prevent terrorist acts at an early stage,” she said.

“This is not simply a case of collecting a large volume of extremist material – which in itself can only be categorised as extremely depraved and horrific.

“This offending goes beyond that … he took active steps to provide guidance to others, online, on how to make explosives, suggesting he has the expertise to do so.

“He pledged allegiance through the Bay’ah … this is not a one-off, his offending goes back to 2021 when he was 14 years old.”

The court heard the youth swore an oath of allegiance to Islamic State, above, but “does not accept he’s been radicalised”.

Mr Weir said he did not dispute any of Ms Winra’s statements, but emphasised his client’s youth and genuine contrition.

He said the boy’s acceptance of responsibility meant the case should stay in the Youth Court, where the maximum available sentence is three years’ detention.

“This is a very young man, a young lad who was at the time entrenched in his studies and who continues to have the support of his family,” he said.

“This is the first time he has come before the courts in any way, shape or form … (three years’ jail) would send a very strong message in terms of personal deterrence.”

Mr Weir said the hand-drawn IS flag was crafted by his client immediately after his arrest, not recently, and was “only found in the past fortnight”.

“He’s about to commence and engage in the Inclusivity Support Program for youths who are seen to be radicalised,” he said.

“He doesn’t accept he’s been radicalised but he does accept what he has done is wrong and is very serious.”