Teen, 15, charged over alleged home invasions, armed robberies, car thefts

A 15-year-old accused of dozens of alleged violent, meth-fuelled crimes across Bendigo could walk free again in a week despite police warning he could kill someone.

A 15-year-old charged with dozens of alleged crimes across Bendigo could be released on bail a week after his arrest.

One of Victoria’s worst youth offenders — who previously dodged jail on 81 charges relating to violent robberies and car thefts — has been arrested on dozens of new charges and could be released on bail in a week.

Days after a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a probation order without conviction in July last year for a series of violent robberies and car thefts, the “prolific meth, GHB and cannabis user” was allegedly back on the streets reoffending.

Police arrested the teen on Thursday, alleging he had the keys to a stolen car from Gisborne that was linked to a string of aggravated burglaries.

Police allege the 15-year-old has made no attempt to comply with court orders.

A Children’s Court heard police “tried everything possible” to keep the teen in line who made “no attempt” to comply with court orders and regularly escaped from residential care.

During his last release on bail 55 days ago the teen only spent 16 days at home, absconding 16 times and allegedly going on crime sprees.

The teen has now been charged — alongside several others — for a series of alleged armed robberies and assaults in Melbourne and Bendigo.

In one alleged incident, the 15-year-old bashed and robbed a young man in Bendigo’s CBD over his jumper, threatening to stab him before punching him 13 times and kicking him in the head.

He also allegedly attempted to stab a woman in January while screaming “I’ll kill you c**t”.

Police allege the 15-year-old robbed victims with a knife.

The 15-year-old was also being investigated alongside others for allegedly arriving and leaving a Derwent Drive, Long Gully address in stolen cars.

In one alleged incident in August the 15-year-old stole a car which he then drove dangerously around Bendigo before dumping it in a dam at Long Gully.

The court heard the 15-year-old was also being investigated as a person of interest in dozens of other alleged offences.

Police opposed his bail application on Thursday, fearing he was a risk to the safety of the community after allegedly “threatening to stab members of the public”.

Police allegedly arrested the teen at a Bendigo address with the keys to a stolen car linked to a series of aggravated burglaries.

Police feared he would continue to steal cars and was a risk of causing a “major catastrophic event where someone will be killed”.

The 15-year-old’s lawyer told the court the troubled teen suffered from foetal alcohol syndrome which “severely impaired” his daily function.

The court heard the teen was “very vulnerable” to the influence of other criminals, and remanding him in custody would expose him to further criminal influences.

His lawyer told the court the 15-year-old identified as First Nations.

But police alleged the 15-year-old had lied to the court about his Aboriginality to get a better chance at bail.

The magistrate said detaining a child was an “absolute last resort” but the teen had given her no choice.

“I’ve got goosebumps thinking you’re driving a car while you’re fuelled up (on drugs)” she said.

“I worry for you and I worry for us [the community].”

The magistrate remanded the teen to the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre in Parkville.

The court heard he would return in a week’s time to apply for bail again, with his lawyer bringing a plan to get him back into school and support services.