‘Cowardly thugs’ burglary at Eureka Care Community centre

A 14-year-old boy was on bail for driving stolen cars when he broke into a 92-year-old disabled man’s unit, who was unable to speak and stole from him.

Townsville Children’s District Court: ‘Cowardly thugs’ burglary at Eureka Care Community centre

A pair of juveniles who flaunted their crimes social media by posing in front of stolen cars before lighting one on fire have been sentenced in court, with one of the crims committing a further “cowardly” crime.

The kids, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were part of a group who were driving five stolen cars around Townsville, being a Mercedes Benz, Ford Rangers, a Mazda 3 and a Kona from August 8 to August 10 last year.

Crown prosecutor Rana Aldas said the pair, who were not charged with stealing the cars but unlawfully driving them, parked next to each other and posted photos to Instagram.

The juvies then lit the Mazda’s back seat on fire, “destroying it completely” with the boy filming it and posting the video online.

Ms Aldas said the owner was insured and able to get an insurance sum in return.

The police helicopter tracked the cars, with authorities finding the boy hiding underneath his bed at home, whereas the girl continued to drive through Townsville and even attempted to change vehicles by trying to jump into someone else’s car.

Police deployed a tyre deflation device to ultimately stop the girl and her co-accused, her older brother who ran into bushland nearby where they were both arrested.

The boy who was arrested after hiding under his bed was released on bail and seven months later broke into the Eureka Care Community complex in Condon by jumping the gated area with a co-accused.

Ms Aldas said the juveniles tried to break into a number of units but failed, and even used a lighter to try and burn a hole through a screen door which failed – until they got to a 92-year-old man’s residence who was unable to talk.

She said the man woke up to the juveniles with a torch saying “where’s the money?” and he was unable to respond.

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

“Despite being confronted by a vulnerable person they still stole from him, they took his wallet from his bedside table and he chased them out of the unit,” the crown said.

When referencing the girl and boy Ms Aldas said they seemed to have come from “supportive families” who all showed up in court.

“(The juveniles) are entrenched in negative peer groups, they continue to commit offences,” Ms Aldas said.

“(The girl) seems to demonstrate a capacity to engage well with orders but on the converse just continues to offend.”

Her defence barrister Kellie Mythen said while the girl was the eldest out of the two being sentenced, she was by no means the eldest in offending and followed the lead of her older brother and an adult offence who was present.

She detailed how the young girl’s offences coincided with her stepfather going to jail, with whom she was very close with.

The boy’s defence barrister Tom Hancock told the judge they should not lose sight of the fact he was 13 at the time of his offending, and since being at Cleveland Detention Centre had seen a “vast improvement” in attending education courses.

He explained the boy had suffered from harsh conditions at the centre, having being locked in his cell for 30 per cent of his time, and in five days spent a total of one hour and 17 minutes out of his room.

“It is appropriate for sentencing courts to take into account unusually harsh circumstances,” he said.

‘They’re users’ - Judge Coker

Judge John Coker emphasised to the juveniles that it was their families at the back of court, not their peers with whom they committed crimes.

“They’re not your friends, they’re users,” he said.

When turning to sentence the boy, His Honour called him and the co-accused “cowardly thugs”.

“You stole from an elderly disabled man, you should hang your head in shame,” he said.

“You, like the cowardly young thugs that you were, were pursued by a 92-year-old man and ran away. It means to me, you’re not very good at this.”

The pair pleaded guilty to 10 charges committed jointly that pre-date the new laws, and included unlawful posting to social media, unlawful use of vehicles and arson, and the boy pleaded guilty to an extra charge of burglary and stealing.

She was sentenced to 15 months detention to be released immediately, and a serious repeat offender declaration was made.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

Originally published as ‘Cowardly thugs’ burglary at Eureka Care Community centre