Prolific teen crim released on bail with deferred sentence after methed up Bendigo knife bust in stolen car

A methed up, knife-wielding youth crim caught in a stolen car while on bail for Bendigo home invasions and robberies has walked free again despite a magistrate saying he would likely reoffend.

A teen has been released on bail after he was caught “red handed” with a knife in a stolen car during a Bendigo crime spree.

A “very concerned” magistrate has released a teenager busted with a knife in a stolen car back into the community, despite believing he was likely to continue to offend.

The teenager, who recently turned 18 but the law prohibits from identifying because he committed the crimes as a juvenile, was released on a deferred sentence after pleading guilty to a slew of charged relating to crime tears across Bendigo.

The teen was “caught red handed”, the magistrate said in a stolen blue Subaru that First Constable Benjamin Smythe told the court had been involved in several high speed police chases across Bendigo.

Officers spotted him running “fully masked” towards the car, jumping in and trying to take off about 2.14am on May 10.

The teenager was caught “red handed” in a stolen car with a knife in his waistband.

Police positioned a divisional van in front of him and Constable Smythe jumped out tried to get him out of the car.

Constable Smythe deployed his taser to stop the teen from ramming the police car in front of him when the Subaru “bunny hopped” as the crim failed to get the car into gear, and then zapped him again when the crim reached for a knife in his waist band.

“The accused will stop at nothing to avoid police detection and apprehension,” he said.

“If not for immediate police intervention on the night of being arrested the accused would have fled the area in a stolen vehicle putting the community at further risk of dangerous driving.”

Constable Smythe said the teen admitted to being “off his head” on meth and Xanax, which was why the crim wasn’t able to get the car started.

The teen applied for bail on Wednesday after spending 10 days in the police cells, which was strenuously opposed by police.

The teen is also facing several charges relating to robbery, assault and home invasion.

Constable Smythe told the court the teen had “shown a blatant disregard for any court imposed bail” and alleged he would continue to reoffend on bail as he had done multiple times before.

Legal Aid lawyer Emiel Eddy argued the teen should be released on CISP bail and placed in the ARC list to give him an opportunity for rehabilitation – claiming this was “a real turning point for him”.

However, Magistrate Sharon McRae said “it’s really not” and the teenager had come before her multiple times over the years for repeat offending while on bail.

She said the teenager had demonstrated “pathetic” engagement with support services offered.

“He’s a young person who has shown no inclination to engage with anyone whatsoever,” she said.

“Any deferral of sentence in the past for (the youth) has fallen very badly for him,” she said.

“He has just continued to offend.”

Mr Eddy tried to blame the NDIS for not supporting him, but Ms McRae said people had been “trying to help (the teen) for years and he has not engaged”.

The teenager was released on bail again - despite the magistrate’s concerns he would reoffend.

Ms McRae said she had sat on the Children’s Court bench “absolutely begging” the frequent flyer to get help on several occasions, but he refused to change his behaviour.

She said she had “seen (the teen) in tears” because he hated being in custody – pleading to be let out again – but then kept offending while on bail every time he was given another chance.

Ms McRae said she was “very concerned” he would not comply with bail and continue to commit offences if she let him out.

However, she said she would be “remiss in my duties” to young people before the court if she didn’t give him another opportunity.

She warned the teen he was “no longer a child” under the law, saying if he came back one more time he would go to jail.

Ms McRae released the teen on a deferral of sentence to undertake CISP bail and ultimately receive a lenient sentence if he behaves himself for 12 months.