17-year-old avoids adult prison time for car theft, retirement village break-in

A Cairns teen has avoided adult jail time days before her 18th birthday after she was sentenced for stealing a car and breaking into a an 86-year-old’s retirement village home in the middle of the day, leaving the elderly woman traumatised.

The Cairns Courthouse building on Sheridan Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Cairns teenager has avoided adult jail time days before her 18th birthday after she was sentenced for stealing a car and breaking into an 86-year-old’s retirement village home in the middle of the day, leaving the elderly woman traumatised.

The young woman pleaded guilty to three charges of enter dwelling and commit offence and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle after she broke into homes on October 5 and November 21 last year.

Police prosecutor Mary Molloy told the court around 10pm on October 5 the defendant and her co-offender entered the home of a 42-year-old woman and stole car keys before returning half an hour later and stealing the woman’s car.

Ms Molloy said in November the girl broke into the home of an 86-year-old woman in a gated retirement village.

A Cairns teenager has avoided adult jail time days before her 18th birthday after she was sentenced for stealing a car and breaking into an 86-year-old’s retirement village home. Stock photo.

“It was in broad daylight around 3.15pm at an aged care facility,” she said.

“She took a bag with a mobile phone and $500 cash.

“She was later located in Cairns North and arrested.”

Ms Molloy told the court the girl had a history of like-offending with two terms of custody already under her belt.

“Every avenue has been opened to her; this is the last resort,” she said.

“She has been given bonds, probation, detention, and community release orders.

“She has breached probation, has been resentenced, and breached conditional release orders.”

Defence counsel Jaci Boughton told the court the young woman had a history of self-harm and substance abuse and faced family issues in her home which influenced her offending.

“The offending is impulsive and stems from a need for approval from peers,” Ms Boughton said.

“She does feel remorse for the victims but recognises at the time she did not think of the victims.”

Magistrate Mandy Bowen said the 86-year-old’s victim impact statement revealed she loses sleep every night, questions why it happened to her, and said her health has deteriorated since the incident including three admissions into hospital.

“It breaks my heart,” Ms Bowen said.

Ms Bowen gave the girl a wake-up call as she enters adulthood.

“In 11 days you will not be going back to youth detention, you will go straight to Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.”

The 17-year-old was sentenced to 42 days in custody with time served and a six month probation order sparing her time in an adult correctional facility.

Originally published as 17-year-old avoids adult prison time for car theft, retirement village break-in