Southeast teen bailed four times in two months for alleged violent, brazen crime spree
A teenager accused of a wave of violent crimes throughout Melbourne’s southeast — including several assaults and speeding in a stolen car to evade police — is back on the streets after being bailed for a fourth time despite police fears.
South East
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A southeast teen gang member has been granted bail for the fourth time in less than two months.
The 16-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was granted bail in the Supreme Court on May 4.
The teen’s alleged violent crime spree – which included charges for alleged assaults, thefts, robberies, car thefts and reckless conduct endangering life – stretched from March 15 to April 18.
The most serious offence occurred when the boy allegedly drove a stolen Subaru Forrester at more than 130 km/h through Springvale early on April 15.
Police alleged the boy then drove on the wrong side of the road through Keysborough to avoid “strategically placed stop sticks”.
The teen was granted bail in a Children’s Court later that day with strict conditions, including curfew.
The court heard the boy was already on two sets of bail for alleged assaults, thefts and robberies committed at a plaza, station, pier and bottle shop in Melbourne’s southeast.
Three days later, and ignoring his curfew, the boy was nabbed in an allegedly stolen car which had ran a red light early on April 18.
He was refused bail at a Children’s Court on April 20.
However, a “favourable report” from Youth Justice’s Toni Cooling helped sway Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney in reversing that decision.
In her report, Ms Cooling – who had dealt with the boy during prior bail undertakings – said the teen was suitable for bail despite his “previous failings”.
She noted, among other things, the boy’s willingness to “adhere to bail conditions”.
Police opposed bail because the boy was an “unacceptable risk of endangering the safety or welfare of any person”.
The respondent pointed out the boy’s “violent assaults against members of the public” were “indicative of the risks” he would pose if released.
It was also put to the court the boy’s “inherently serious” dangerous driving was a “grave concern … in light of recent tragic events in Victoria”.
The respondent raised concerns the boy’s bail conditions would be exactly the same conditions the boy “failed so conspicuously and rapidly to abide by”.
The boy’s “gang association” was also a concern, the court heard.
“Gangs of youths offending in the nature alleged here cause significant fear to the community,” Justice Tinney said.
“The seriousness of the alleged offending, the repetitive nature of it in spite of multiple undertakings of bail, the strength of the case against the applicant, and a number of other matters, would dictate that were it not for the young age of the applicant, a grant of bail would be highly improbable.
“However, in the end, it has weighed heavily on my mind, in considering the unacceptable risk test, that the applicant may be at a critical juncture in his life.
“He is 16 years old with what could be an exciting and fulfilling life in front of him.”
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