Ayden Charles: Gold Coast teen’s “wake-up call” after drunken break-in at Sea World

A “foolish and stupid” break-in into a Gold Coast theme park has earned this teen apprentice an important wake up call. Read what happened here.

Ayden Charles, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and one count of wilful damage when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: Emily Walker

A teenager who broke into Sea World with his friends and damaged a fire extinguisher described his actions as “foolish and stupid”, a court has heard.

Ayden Charles, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and one count of wilful damage when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police were called to attend Sea World in relation to three male persons trespassing the Main Beach theme park around 2.15am on May 18, 2025.

The court heard that a fire extinguisher in the park had been removed and damaged by the trespassers.

Ayden Charles, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and one count of wilful damage when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: Emily Walker

Charles, one of the three men that climbed a fence to get into the park, was intercepted by police a short distance away from Sea World and provided no lawful reason for entering the property of the business.

In court, no restitution was sought for the damage done to the fire equipment.

The other two co-offenders were not named in court.

Ashkan Tai solicitor Joanna McNae, acting as duty lawyer, told the court the offending was quite out of character for her client.

The court heard Charles graduated from the Southport School and is currently completing an apprenticeship to become a diesel mechanic.

The court heard Charles’ reasoning for the offence was that he was intoxicated at the time. Picture: Emily Walker

Ms McNae said her client’s only reasoning for the offence was that he was quite intoxicated at the time.

“And being stupid,” Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson said.

Ms McNae said her client knew there was no excuse for his behaviour and was remorseful.

“In his own words, he instructs that it was very foolish and stupid of him to do that with his friends,” Ms McNae said.

She noted her client came before the court at a young age and with no prior criminal history.

Ms Thompson took into account Charles’ guilty plea and a letter from Charles’ old Southport School housemaster from 2023 that spoke of his involvement in the school.

“I hope this is a really big wake up call as to where stupidity can find you,” she told him.

He was sentenced to a $300 good behaviour bond for three months.

No conviction was recorded.

This is not the first time police have attended the popular Gold Coast theme park to catch trespassers.

In 2021, a Gold Coast man was fined $800 after he broke into Sea World and hid in an animal enclosure because he wanted to see the seals.

Originally published as Ayden Charles: Gold Coast teen’s “wake-up call” after drunken break-in at Sea World