Teenager faces Gympie court over break-in, sex crime charges

A teen accused of having involvement in a string of break-ins and other child sex crimes has made a tearful first court appearance as his heartbroken, supportive mother watched on.

An 18-year-old boy has not applided for bail and will remain on remand after being charged with a string of offences in relation to a series of break-and-enters around Gympie CBD over December and Janaury.

An 18-year-old boy accused of involvement in a string of break-ins with several other teens and other child sex crimes has made a tearful first appearance at court following his arrest on Saturday.

The teenager, who cannot be legally named to protect the identity of the complainant, was crying as he was led into Gympie Magistrates Court Monday afternoon and ushered to the dock.

He remained in tears throughout the duration of the hearing.

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His mother watched from the public gallery, showing her support ahead of the hearing by calling out “I love you sweetie” and “it’s OK mate, it’ll be all right”.

Earlier she had asked media present at the court to not paint her son as a “monster”.

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The 18-year-old, who cannot legally be named, is facing 19 charges related to property offences, and six charges in relation to child sex offences, including one count of carnal knowledge with a child under 16 and one count of making child exploitation material.

The boy was one of four teenagers arrested for a string of break-ins in and around Gympie’s CBD across December and January.

He is facing 19 charges including six counts of enter premises and committing indictable offence by break, two counts of attempting to enter a premises and commit an indictable offence, one count of endangering particular property by fire, and one count of stealing a vehicle.

He is facing charges over several sexual offences too, including one count of carnal knowledge with or of children under 16, three counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, one count of making child exploitation material and one count of possessing child exploitation material.

No details about the alleged crimes were read out in court.

The 18-year-old’s solicitor Mark Oliver told the court they would be applying for a mental health assessment and there was “no appetite for bail”.

The court heard evidence briefs will be given to the defence by mid-February, and the teenager’s matter would return to the court on February 27.

His appearance will not be required.

The 18-year-old’s matter will return to Gympie Magistrates Court on February 27, but his appearance will not be required.

His mother told him to “be respectful” as he was led from the dock and back into custody on remand, but she was the chance to hug him by police owing to a previous, unrelated incident at the courthouse.

The boy’s co-accused were two 16-year-old Southside boys and a 13-year-old Gympie girl.

One of the 16-year-old boys, who is facing 26 charges, will appear at Gympie Children's Court.

The charges against him include 16 counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, two counts of attempted enter premises and commit indictable offence, one count of possess by night instrument of house breaking, two counts of stealing of a vehicle, one count of evading police, one count of obstruct police officer and three counts of unlicensed driving.

The second 16-year-old boy and the girl have been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act, police said in a statement released Sunday.