Sydney teen accused of displaying Nazi symbols in twice in recent weeks

A teen accused of graffitiing a suburban Sydney street with appalling Nazi phrases and symbols had only just been placed on probation for the same offence in recent weeks.

A teenager has been charged after swastikas were found etched into trees and marked on pavement across a southern Sydney suburb. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

A teen accused of scrawling appalling Nazi phrases and symbols throughout a suburban Sydney street had only just been placed on probation weeks earlier for waving a Nazi flag.

A 15-year-old allegedly caught emblazoning swastikas and ‘heil Hitler” on trees, driveways and gutters was described by a magistrate as a “very intelligent” boy who allegedly does things to “get a rise out of people” in court on Wednesday.

Sutherland Shire police charged the teen with property damage and knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse after he allegedly used fruit or food to paint the offensive graffiti on a Gymea street.

Only three weeks earlier, Children’s Court Magistrate David Williams had sentenced the same teen to 12 months’ probation with supervision by Juvenile Justice for a host of offences including two counts of knowingly displaying Nazi symbols, being armed with intent, intimidation, property damage, assault, and contravening an apprehended violence order.

Residents in the same Gymea street told The Daily Telegraph the child was seen waving a swastika flag some weeks prior, with police coming to deal with him days later.

Swastikas and anti-Semitic messages were painted on driveways in Forest Rd. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

In a children’s court on Wednesday, Mr Williams said the boy – who has extremely complex mental health diagnoses – had 17 breaches of bail on his record.

“He is very intelligent and speaks to me often on his own behalf,” Mr Williams said.

“He is at a loss to explain the behaviour that led to the probation orders – it has been said he does things to get a rise out of people.”

The boy has been diagnosed with autism, conduct disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, with other potential diagnoses still being explored.

“Every case involving (the boy) is complex,” Mr Williams said.

“The proper resolution is never clear – but this is a bail determination, it is a straightforward risk assessment.”

A police prosecutor strongly opposed bail, saying bail conditions, probation, and significant community support from a variety of agencies had failed to deter the boy from committing further offences.

One resident described it as a “sad situation”.

The boy’s solicitor Stephanie Fowler sought his bail with strict conditions, emphasising the boy’s complex mental health issues and noting he was thoroughly supported by his family and multiple services with which he has engaged.

But Mr Williams said he could not rely on the boy to comply with any bail conditions due to his history, and bail was refused.

“There can be no doubt that this is an offence likely to have an effect on the community generally,” Mr Williams said.

“It seems to me that there is a real risk that he will commit a number of these offences, as he has done in the past.”

The boy’s matter will be mentioned before Mr Williams on Tuesday at another children’s court.

On Wednesday morning, residents assessed the Nazi swastikas, “heil Hitler”, “Adolf” and “Blut und Boden” messages painted on their driveways, gutters, and nearby trees along Forest Rd and North West Arm Rd after the alleged graffiti spree on Tuesday afternoon.

“We first noticed this [going on] when the boy was waving a [swastika] flag about six weeks ago … I don’t know him … it’s just a really sad situation to be honest,” one resident said on the condition of anonymity.