Notorious 14-year-old ‘going home’ after pleading guilty to home invasion, car theft

One of the state’s worst child offenders is back in the community after cops and social workers did not seek more time in youth detention for the teen.

A notorious teen who has been locked up longer than any other Victorian child is back in the community despite pleading guilty to “revolting” crimes, including home invasions and car thefts.

The 14-year-old boy was released on a 10 month probation order on Friday after neither police or youth justice sought a custodial sentence for a “disgusting” home invasion in which stole cars and luxury shoes.

It was the first time the teen — who has previously faced more than 400 charges including over other home invasions — had been sentenced.

A Victorian Children's Court magistrate said the boy had already spent an “extraordinary amount of time in custody” – 12 months over the past two years.

“That’s longer than any other child in his age group in our state,” the magistrate said.

She emphasised the time the boy had already spent in custody to avoid criticism from “people who say we don’t remand children”.

The court heard the child was at risk of being institutionalised after spending six months on remand over the past year and another six months in youth detention in 2023 over almost 400 charges that were ultimately struck out because of his age.

Youth crim facing new charges after breaking into garage

The 388 charges were withdrawn on the doli incapax principle that dictates the presumption that a child aged 10 to 14 is incapable of criminal intent.

After sentencing, the magistrate told the teen it was the first time he had nothing before the court since he was a “young child”.

But she warned if he offended again he “wouldn’t last five minutes”.

“If you don’t make this probation order work, you’ll be straight back in Parkville,” she said.

“Breaking into people’s houses when they’re inside is disgusting, it’s revolting, the community is outraged by it.”

She added: “Kids in stolen cars have led to people getting hurt and recently some people have lost their lives … the community is incredibly angry about it.”

The court heard that on his release the teen would live in residential care “specifically tailored” to his needs.

He would be paired with another youth and supervised by two support workers with one-on-one care during the day.

The boy on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of home invasion, related to an incident in Melbourne’s southeast on May 28 when he and other co-offenders entered a home through an unlocked door, rummaged through drawers to find car keys and then used them to steal two cars.

A wallet containing personal cards and Gucci brand slides were also taken.

An occupant of the house woke up when one of the children shone a torch into their room.

The court also heard the boy had been involved in other aggravated burglaries in Melbourne’s southeast on June 24 and 25 where cars were stolen.

On June 26, the Police Air Wing followed one of the stolen cars along a major thoroughfare in Melbourne’s southeast before it stopped to drop the teen off at his residential care address.

The boy was arrested and a search of his phone revealed footage of an Audi being driven at 123km/h.

A youth justice report revealed the boy had started to show some insight into how his victims might feel and the consequences of his actions.

He also “did not cause any trouble” while in custody and was “doing good school work, writing stories and drawing”.