Teen girl in Gladstone Children’s Court for smashing car windscreen

A teenage e-scooter rider who smashed a car windscreen during an ugly confrontation did it because she feared being mowed down by the vehicle, a court has heard.

A teen e-scooter rider has faced Gladstone Children's Court after she smashed a car windscreen during a confrontation with its occupants. Generic image.

A teen e-scooter rider who smashed a car windscreen during an ugly confrontation with its occupants, has faced court.

The 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty in Gladstone Children’s Court on Friday to two counts of wilful damage.

The court heard the first offence happened on the afternoon of February 26 when the girl was riding her e-scooter outside the Gladstone Hospital Community Health Centre.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said the girl approached a woman and her son, and accused the latter of owing her money.

Mr Boyd said a physical altercation took place between the girl and the male.

“(The girl) asked (the woman) what she was going to do about her son,” the prosecutor said.

“(The woman) replied ‘what would you like me to do?’”

Mr Boyd said the woman saw the girl scratch the back of her vehicle before riding away on the e-scooter.

“(The woman) told her son to get in the car.

“(She) entered the vehicle with her son.

“(The woman) started the car and observed (the girl) yelling and screaming while approaching (the car).”

Mr Boyd said the woman then put the car in “park” and she saw the girl, holding a rock in her hand, slam the rock into the front windscreen of the car.

That caused the windscreen to shatter and the girl rode off on her e-scooter, Mr Boyd said.

Gladstone Police Station.

The court heard the girl voluntarily attended Gladstone Police Station on April 8 and participated in an interview with her support person present.

“She made admissions to causing damage to the front windscreen of the (woman’s) car,” Mr Boyd said.

“She stated that she saw the (woman’s) son and that he owed her $50 - she approached (him) and asked about the money.”

The prosecutor said the girl told police she heard the male tell his mum words to the effect of “get in the car and get her”.

“(The girl) stated that she feared for her life and did not think she’d make it back home on the scooter,” Mr Boyd said.

“(The girl) stated that she used the rock to smash the windscreen so they could not use the car anymore - she stated she did not want to ask for help from the business nearby as she knows how to handle this stuff by herself.”

The court heard it cost $1300 to repair the car windscreen.

It was told the second wilful damage offence happened at Gladstone Police Station on the day the girl participated in the interview.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Mr Boyd said the girl spat on the carpet while inside the station and cleaners had to tend to that.

The court heard the girl had a four-page juvenile criminal history and she was nearing the end of a 12-month probation order.

A Youth Justice Court Coordinator told Magistrate Mary Buchanan the girl had successfully completed programs and was continuing with other programs.

“She has a very high level of attendance with Youth Justice,” the Court Coordinator said.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said during the hospital incident, the girl was “quite worried and very fearful that they would actually run her over with the vehicle.”

“(The girl) instructs me as well, that (the woman) and her son don’t have a very good reputation.”

In relation to the spitting incident at the police station, Ms Wieland said there were “some racial comments made.”

Ms Wieland said the girl had aspirations of becoming a chef and had planning in place to get into a traineeship.

Magistrate Buchanan placed the girl on a six-month good behaviour order and no conviction was recorded.