Teen crime Dandenong, Frankston, Hallam: 16-year-old walks from jail after southeast crime spree
A lawless teen behind a string of disturbing crimes across Melbourne’s southeast has been given a chance at freedom.
South East
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A 16-year-old boy who committed shocking crimes including the savage beating of a man in Hallam has walked from jail.
The child, whose offending also included a knifepoint robbery in Dandenong North and robbery in Frankston, was released on probation after pleading guilty in the Children's Court on Friday.
The chance at freedom comes after the teen spent 48 days locked inside the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct.
The court heard the boy ransacked a Dandenong North property with a co-accused on January 16 before producing a knife to a youth who was waiting on the street with a number of others.
The teen and his co-accused demanded one youth hand over his shoes and phone before the 16-year-old yanked the phone from him and punched him on the nose.
The boy also left a man in hospital with a fractured nose and cheekbone following a road rage incident at Hallam on May 22, and caused close to $3000 worth of damage after smashing Greater Dandenong Council CCTV cameras with a fire extinguisher while in the company of eight youths.
Mr Kilias described the teen’s offending as “pure, sharklike violence” before refusing his application for bail on January 24.
“I can assure you that experience in Parkville is nothing like what it will be like for you if you end up in adult custody,” Magistrate Costas Kilias told the boy on Friday.
“You committed very serious offences. Because of your youth, I’m giving you the opportunity to avoid a conviction.
“I really, really hope you and I don’t have to see each other again and I suspect your mother and family hopes for the same thing.”
The boy was released on a 12 month probation and must complete alcohol and drug testing.
He was also ordered to pay $1000 to replace the broken council cameras.
