Cairns Childrens Court: 16yo sentenced for meth fuelled crime spree

A 16-year-old boy has faced 41 charges in Childrens Court for a meth fuelled spree stealing cars, and driving dangerously, admitting to police he was “fried off his face”. See what was said in the first of cases the public can now see.

Alleged car thieves in a Toyota HiLux do burnouts and run a red light outside Pillow Talk on McCoombe St in Bungalow.

A 16-year-old boy has faced 41 charges in Cairns Childrens Court after he was arrested for a meth-fuelled spree breaking into houses, stealing cars, and driving dangerously, admitting to police he was “fried off his face”.

The sentencing was one of a number of shocking matters including another boy facing a rape charge, heard in the Childrens Court as new laws allowed journalists greater access to proceedings.

The teenager, who was on bail at the time a majority of the charges were committed, pleaded guilty eleven charges of breaches of bail, he also plead guilty to 30 other charges including, break and enter, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and nine charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle during a meth fuelled rampage on July 10.

A recent spike in Cairns car thefts has been blamed on recidivist offenders being released from Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. Picture: QPS

Magistrate Mandy Bowen said the dangerous driving offences occurred between 9am and 10.15am while roads were busy with people heading to work and dropping their kids at school.

Ms Bowen said the teenager, who has a 14-page juvenile history, was “entering roundabouts from the wrong side of the road, weaving in and out narrowly missing oncoming traffic.

“You’ve driven in the direction of police and driven within 10cm of the A pillar of the vehicle and you have driven on vehicle towards witnesses on the wrong side of the road narrowly avoided a collision,” Ms Bowen said.

“There was no regard for other members of the public or yourself or the other people in the car.”

The police prosecutor said the teenager’s actions had “potential to cause significant harm to members of the public”.

Alleged teen car thieves caught on CCTV casing a Cairns property. Picture: Queensland Police

She told the court substance abuse was a contributing factor to the offending with the teen making admissions to police that he was “fried of his face” during some of the offences.

Defence counsel Peter Haarsma told the court that the defendant was “unfortunately” introduced to methylamphetamine by his friends.

“He had taken this a number of times during the time of these offences, this doesn’t excuse his behaviour but probably goes a long way to explaining why he was acting like that,” he said.

“His thinking certainly was impinged by methylamphetamine.”

Despite the seriousness of the offending Ms Bowen said there were promising signs for the teens rehabilitation with him undergoing classes during detention.

“I think perhaps you are maturing slightly and moving forwards,” she said.

The teenager has spent 115 days in detention in Cleveland and Ms Bowen declared that as time served, further sentencing the teenager to four months probation upon his release.

Another juvenile passenger in the vehicle with the 16-year-old also had his matters heard with Ms Bowen granting the young man bail while case conferencing continues.

A teen offender being loaded into the back of a police vehicle. Picture: QPS

Meanwhile in Childrens Court last week, another girl was also sentenced to four months probation after she was a passenger in two separate stolen vehicles which drove in a convoy from Innisfail to Gordonvale where they were intercepted by police.

A 14-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to 57 charges including unlawful use and dangerous use of a motor vehicle at night and in company.

His matter was listed for sentence on September 27 while a pre-sentencing report is prepared.

In a separate matter another boy was given bail after being held in custody since June 8, as he faces a rape charge.

New laws, which passed Queensland parliament last week, make the Childrens Court more open to victims of crime, the family of victims who have died, victim representatives and accredited media entities.

These laws apply to Childrens Court criminal proceedings not heard on indictment, such as matters heard by a Childrens Court Magistrate.

Under the changes, victims of crime – or the family of victims who have died, including by homicide, cannot be excluded from proceedings unless the court orders otherwise.

Originally published as Cairns Childrens Court: 16yo sentenced for meth fuelled crime spree