Teenage boy takes bail bid to Townsville District Court after two failed attempts

The father of a teenage boy who has appeared in court 17 times over the past four years has pleaded for his son to be released into his care.

The father of a teenage boy who has appeared in court 17 times over the past four years has pleaded for his son to be released into his care.

The 15-year-old boy was arrested in Cairns on October 27 last year after a wild crime spree across North Queensland. He was on bail for a string of other offences, including stealing, enter premises with intent and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A residential condition and curfew condition were imposed as part of the bail conditions granted to him on September 16 last year.

On Monday, a bail application was heard in Townsville District Court. He had been denied release on two other occasions, and was again. The boy was charged with 20 offences including stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle over a month-long spree.

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It was alleged in court that on October 1 the boy attempted to break into five cars at The Ville Resort-Casino.

A day later on October 2, he was allegedly involved in stealing a white Toyota Hilux ute in Townsville.

About 10pm that night, he was captured on CCTV allegedly stealing two bottles of one litre Jim Beam from the Ayr BWS.

On October 18, he allegedly stole a car from Heatley and later that afternoon, allegedly snatched a woman’s bag and wallet from Stockland Shopping Centre in Townsville.

The court heard the boy was involved in stealing another car from Hermit Park on October 20.

The court heard the child had breached his September bail conditions 82 times during the October crime spree.

Police conducted a curfew and residential check 14 times at the boy’s father’s address from October 4 to 23 last year, but he was not at home.

On October 20, the father admitted to police his son was “out with someone else doing ice and stealing cars”.

A day later, the father told police his child had not been home in 24 days.

He has spent the past 4½ months at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

The court heard the boy first appeared before the courts when he was 12, in 2017. His criminal history spans 11 pages and the longest time he has spent in detention is 96 days.

His legal representative, Victoria Twivey, presented Judge Gregory Lynham with a reference written by the child’s father. The reference supported the boy’s release, explaining the time spent in detention had been a “shake-up” for him.

The father noted it had been the longest time the child had spent away from home. He said his son had spent Christmas and his birthday in detention and wanted the child to come back home and be with his family and would support his son if he was granted bail.

Judge Lynham took an hour to consider the boy’s application for bail.

“It is clear the applicant child has a complete disregard for any curfew conditions imposed upon him and has demonstrated a willingness to associate with other like-minded offenders,” he said.

“Not only is the child an unacceptable risk of reoffending, but his current demonstrative state of mind there are no conditions, in my view, would adequately mitigate the risk of the child reoffending.”

Judge Lynham refused the boy bail.

Originally published as Teenage boy takes bail bid to Townsville District Court after two failed attempts