Teenage car thief's sentenced reduced on appeal

A 14-year-old boy who crashed a stolen four-wheel-drive into a North Brisbane community centre before fleeing the scene with his passengers has had his sentence reduced.

The teenager’s sentence has been downgraded on appeal.

A 14-year-old boy who crashed a stolen four-wheel-drive into a North Brisbane community centre before fleeing the scene with his passengers has had his sentence reduced on appeal.

The boy was behind the wheel of a stolen ute just before noon on June 13 when he lost control, ploughing through a fence and crashing into a Bracken Ridge community centre, causing structural damage.

A number of people were inside the building at the time of the crash but no injuries were reported.

The teen’s sentence was reduced on appeal. Picture: Channel 9

The driver and his three passengers, two boys and a girl, fled the wreckage but were chased down by police and taken into custody.

The boy later told police he tried to negotiate a bend in the road when he lost control of the stolen car and failed to brake before smashing into the building.

The teenager spent the night in the watch house and pleaded guilty to five charges including dangerous operation and unlawful use of a motor vehicle the next day during his first appearance in the Pine Rivers Children’s Court.

He was sentenced to a restorative justice order and disqualified from driving for nine months.

But on appeal to the Children’s Court of Queensland this month, the orders were set aside and the child instead given a more lenient diversionary order referral and no disqualification.

“In sentencing the child, the magistrate took into account that this was a serious example of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,” Judge Deborah Richards wrote in her appeal decision.

“However, the driving was over a very short period, no one was hurt, and he made full admissions.

Police make an arrest after the crash. Picture: 7News

“The magistrate took into account that this behaviour that was out of character and that he had spent one difficult night in the watch-house.”

The parties accepted the sentencing had not properly considered the mandatory requirement to divert the child to restorative justice.

“Given the very young age of the child, the fact that it was out of character and that he had not been in trouble before, it is accepted a diversionary referral was more appropriate,” Judge Richards found.

“The magistrate gave no reason for choosing to proceed by way of sentence rather than diversion, commenting that it was stricter.”

She said while the requirements of both orders were identical, the sentence imposed by the magistrate was a more formal process.

The car crashed through the wall of a community centre. Picture: Channel 9

“The child had not been given any prior opportunities to be diverted from the criminal justice system,” Judge Richards said.

She found there was no practical effect in the driving disqualification because the boy was too young to obtain a licence or learner’s permit, however the mark would have remained on his traffic history.

“Again, given the young age of the child it is appropriate that the disqualifications, which were not mandatory, be set aside,” Judge Richards said.

The court heard the boy had committed to participating in support programs, had the support of his parents and had part time employment at a KFC.

Police make an arrest after the crash. Picture: Channel 9