Violent Hervey Bay teen declared a ‘serious repeat offender’

In the wake of a violent attack on another young girl, a 15-year-old with at least 157 entries on her criminal history has been declared a serious repeat offender.

A Hervey Bay teenager who has a criminal history with at least 157 entries has been labelled a serious repeat offender.

A 15-year-old girl has been declared a “serious repeat offender” after she once again appeared before court charged with violent offences.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to numerous offences including assault occasioning bodily harm, when she faced Hervey Bay Children’s Court this month.

Judge Michael Burnett told the girl it seemed nothing that had been done to date had assisted the girl in her rehabilitation.

“You’re back before me a little over 12 months since I sentenced you on the last occasion for a serious body of offending,” he said.

The court heard the girl had been involved in an incident where there had been an “unpleasant exchange” where she had invited another girl, allegedly along with her co-offender, to fight with her.

“You really tricked her into that position,” Judge Burnett said.

“You organised to meet up with her for a drink. When she got there you took up with her, complaining about messages that were sent.

“You punched her in the face with a closed first.

“She punched you as you sought to punch her on a second occasion.

“Then you responded by repeatedly punching her with a closed fist on the back of the head.

“It was said that you punched her at least 10 times.

“She seems to have responded at least five times, undoubtedly in self-defence.”

Hervey Bay court. Photo: Tracey Joynson

The girl’s co-accused allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her to the ground, the court was told.

The girl had then continued to punch the victim, Judge Burnett said.

Sometime during the fight, one of the juveniles approached the other party and demanded a scooter.

The girl with the scooter said no.

The scooter was then taken, Judge Burnett said.

Police later visited the 15-year-old girl’s home and seized the scooter, which was in her possession.

A day later when the girl’s mother was present, they asked to speak to the girl, but she refused, barricading the door and hiding in her bedroom.

Police forced the door open and the girl was taken into custody.

At the watch-house, the girl had “scribbled” something on the shower room wall, and she later spat at a police officer, Judge Burnett said.

In a separate incident she threw a deck of cards and punched a complainant in the head several times in the exercise yard.

Judge Burnett said the girl came before the court with a “very unhappy” criminal history, which consisted of about 157 entries, with at least 10 assault entries, 10 assault occasioning bodily harm offences, eight charges of obstructing police, stealing and dishonesty offences, three robbery offences, at least 21 entries of enter premises or burglary offences, seven charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and various breaching offences.

Judge Burnett said the girl’s rehabilitation couldn’t start unless she was willing to get on board.

The factors that contributed to her offending included her dysfunctional family circumstances, substance abuse and peer associations, Judge Burnett said.

He said the girl suffered from a mild intellectual disability, which resulted in frustration.

Judge Burnett said it had been asked that the girl be declared a serious repeat offender.

He said as matters currently stood, the girl was a very high risk of committing further offences.

“For that reason it speaks to me at least of a significant risk to the community,” Judge Burnett said.

He sentenced the teen to 12 months on probation.

Judge Burnett said he took into account the four months the teen had spent on remand waiting to be sentenced.

The teen was also declared a serious repeat offender.

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