Man returns to ACT Children's Court eight years late

A man, aged in his mid-20s, was set for a coastal holiday when a series of events led to him returning to a Children’s Court for a charge he didn’t realise was hanging over his head.

A man has faced the ACT Children’s court eight years late.

A man, aged in his mid-20s, has faced the music for failing to appear at a Children’s Court eight years ago after driving through the national capital for a coastal holiday.

“Where have you been?” Magistrate Lisbeth Campbell exclaimed when the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared via videolink at the ACT Children’s Court on Thursday.

He swiftly pleaded guilty to failing to appear for a court date in 2014, but said “I didn’t know I had this over my head”.

“I thought I just had to go to Queensland to deal with the warrants I had up there – which I did,” he said.

He told the court he was only apprehended for the outstanding matter when a roadside drug test found “a little bit” of THC in his system.

A man in his mid-twenties only discovered he had an ACT Children's Court matter over his head when he was found with THC in his system during a roadside drug test.

The man said he was driving through the ACT to get to Batemans Bay for a holiday and that he had been out of trouble with the law for the last three years.

The reasons why the man faced court as a child were not mentioned during the hearing.

Ms Campbell told the man she wanted to “take control” of the outstanding charge and deal with it without further delay.

After considering giving the man a six-month good behaviour order she then said fining the man to the tune of $250 “sounds easier”.

The man’s lawyer Kat Duffy told the court her client was currently sleeping in his car, and suggested the magistrate give him two months to pay the fine.

Yet he assured Ms Campbell he was able to pay within a month stating his mum had recently passed away and he had received some inheritance.

“Don’t blow off your mums money,” the magistrate said.

“It seems like a worthy cause to sort this out,” he replied.

The man was given one month to pay the $250 fine.