14-year-old boy sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after daring escape from cell

In a bold bid for freedom, a 14-year-old made a daring escape from a holding cell, causing a police chase through the city streets. Find out the strange hiding place where police found him.

A 14-year-old was sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after making a last-minute bid for freedom from his holding cell.

In a bold bid for freedom, a runaway youth criminal sparked a police chase after his daring escape from the Townsville Watchhouse.

A 14-year-old appeared in Townsville Magistrate Court via video link on Thursday after he seized his opportunity to do a “runner” from the Watch house.

Senior Constable Michael Wilkie told the court on April 11 the boy was transported from Cleveland Youth Detention Centre to the courthouse where he was to appear for other matters.

The teenager was put into a temporary holding cell with three other juveniles which backed onto an enclosed police parking bay secured by a rolling door.

“(He) opened the door to the holding cell then sprinted towards the parking roller door which was lowering at the time,” Mr Wilkie said.

“He reached the roller door before it closed, he slid underneath it and exited onto the access road.”

The 14-year-old then sprinted across Walker street and into the nearby Perfume Gardens where he hid in a garden bed.

Mr Wilkie said with the help of nearby witnesses, police were able to find the runaway juvenile and he was arrested and taken back to the watch-house.

Defence lawyer, Phil Rennick said the attempted escape was opportunistic and ultimately “doomed to fail”.

“It probably highlights the police not doing their job,” he said.

Magistrate Steven Mosch highlighted the fact the 14-year-old had only made it 150 metres before being caught.

“There was no particular planning involved, it unfolded, you seized this opportunity,” he said.

The court was told he had already spent nine months in jail after he was sentenced last year to more serious charges including the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and serious assault.

Magistrate Mosch said that time served was “a long time for a young man who’s still aged 14”.

The 14-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of escaping lawful custody.

Magistrate Mosch took into account the 27 days he had spent in custody since committing the offence and reprimanded him with no further punishment.

Convictions were not recorded.

Originally published as 14-year-old boy sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after daring escape from cell