Magistrate rebukes repeat youth offender over violent Kew home invasion

A magistrate has admonished a teenage boy involved in a violent home invasion, telling him he had “thrown away every opportunity” to turn his life around.

A teenage boy involved in a violent home invasion has been rebuked by a magistrate who told him he had “thrown away every opportunity” to turn his life around.

The 17-year-old appeared in a children’s court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to home invasion and theft over the terrifying break-in of a Kew home on February 24, allegedly carried out by a group of four balaclava-clad youths.

Magistrate Gail Hubble described the wayward teen’s criminal history — which includes eight priors for aggravated burglary and home invasion — as “shocking”.

She noted he was already on two probation orders and good behaviour bonds at the time of the offence.

“He really just has thrown away every opportunity he has been given to make his life better,” she said.

“It’s just very frustrating. He’s not been short of opportunities — and he’s blown every one of them.”

Ms Hubble said the teen had so far escaped real punishment but would now be sentenced for both the home invasion and breaching probation.

Police arrested several youth offenders after the home invasion in Kew. Picture: 7NEWS

Earlier this month, the same magistrate refused to release one of the boy’s co-accused — despite pleas from police and his lawyer — because it was the youth’s first time before the courts.

“I am staggered that the police are seeking probation,” she said at the time.

“I wonder what a child would have to do to get a custodial sentence first up?”

Her comments come amid growing public anger over the soft treatment of serious youth offenders — highlighted by the Herald Sun’s Suburbs Under Siege campaign — and increasing pressure on the Allan government to crack down on the out-of-control youth crime crisis.

New bail laws were rushed through parliament amid revelations that some repeat offenders had been released back into the community as many as 55 times.

The teen was one of four youths who allegedly broke into the Sackville St property in Kew through a doggie door about 4am on February 24, leaving the couple who lived there terrified and no longer able to sleep at their home.

The Kew couple survived a brazen home invasion resulting in teens arrested by Police. Picture: Mark Stewart

The couple woke to two of the teens standing over their bed and demanding the keys to their two Porsches in their driveway.

“If you give me the keys we won’t hurt you,” one of them said.

When the couple refused and tried to calm them down, a scuffle broke out.

One of the teens snatched the man’s phone, saying he’d get it back if he handed over the keys.

Another youth laughed as his co-accused threatened: “I’ve never killed anyone, but I can start.”

The man managed to grab back his phone and lock himself in a room to call police.

The youths fled when officers arrived, running out the back door and hiding in a nearby garden, where they were arrested.

The teen was one of four youths who allegedly broke into the Kew property through a doggie door. Picture: 7NEWS

Police recovered a handbag, about $600 cash, car keys and three luxury watches — worth $20,000.

On Thursday, the boy’s lawyer said his “avalanche” of offending was relatively recent and began when he started associating with anti-social peers.

“He’s now become the bad influence,” Ms Hubble said in reply.

The court heard the youths were driving around looking for cars to steal and targeted the home after they noticed the Porsches parked in the driveway.

The boy also told his lawyer he took an anticonvulsant drug which made him “not care”.

He has been in custody since his arrest and will be sentenced in June.

Originally published as Magistrate rebukes repeat youth offender over violent Kew home invasion