Adelaide girl, 16, freed from youth detention after crime spree including Gilles Plains Macca’s attack and violent carjacking
An Adelaide teenager who bashed a Year 8 girl at a suburban McDonald’s and violently carjacked a taxi driver will walk free today after being sentenced to six months.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An Adelaide teenager who bashed a young girl in a “vicious and cowardly” attack at a suburban McDonald’s, then violently carjacked a taxi driver while on bail, will be released from youth detention.
The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in the Adelaide Youth Court on Thursday.
Magistrate Luke Davis said, during the period of her months-long crime spree, the girl had been a “wild, dangerous and angry young woman”, who was “disengaged from society and out of control”.
In February of this year, a 13-year-old was outside a McDonald’s at Gilles Plains, north of the CBD, when she was approached by the girl and others, who yelled at her about a social media post and comments.
Magistrate Davis said the girl punched the victim’s head, grabbed her hair and pulled her to the ground.
While the victim lay helpless, the girl continued the attack and another teenager kicked her mouth with such force that her front teeth were knocked out.
“You have caused the victim pain, shock, anxiety and, while you have caused a monetary cost to the family, the real cost is emotional, psychological and physical,” the magistrate said.
“Your vicious and cowardly attack in broad daylight in a public venue, where families go to simply enjoy themselves, has caused alarm and outrage within the community.
“The community at large is shocked that someone so young could inflict such an injury.”
The girl was charged and eventually released on bail but, in May, she and two other teenagers carjacked a taxi driver as he drove the group to Gawler, north of Adelaide, at 2am.
The girl struck the victim twice, while another accused hit him in the head with a glass bottle.
The third teen pulled him from the car and the group then drove the taxi to Berri in the Riverland – about 200km from where it had been taken.
Additionally, the girl was sentenced for stealing her grandmother’s car and crashing it into a fence in May, and for her involvement in an unprovoked bashing attack on a boy at Rundle Mall last year.
She pleaded guilty to a range of offences including aggravated assault causing harm, aggravated assault, theft and disorderly behaviour.
Magistrate Davis said the girl had experienced a difficult and traumatic upbringing, and was remorseful for her actions.
He sentenced her to six months in youth detention, including the five months she has already spent.
The remaining month of the sentence was suspended and the girl will be released later on Thursday on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
She will also be disqualified from holding a licence until she is at least 18 years old, and must attend counselling and medical appointments as directed.
“Society hasn’t given up on you,” Magistrate Davis told her over a video-link.
“You have everything ready and poised to help you get back on track and get on with a positive life.”
