Teenagers sentenced for role in four-hour Cleveland Youth Detention Centre riot
TWO teenagers have faced a judge for their role in a riot at the Cleveland Youth Detention Unit that caused $200,000 worth of damage.
Townsville
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TWO teenagers have faced a judge for their role in a riot at the Cleveland Youth Detention Unit that caused $200,000 worth of damage.
The two juveniles, 16 and 17, who cannot be identified, were residents at the detention centre on March 18 last year.
The Townsville Children’s Court heard the boys became involved in the riot after another resident smashed a plate against a wall and ripped out a toaster.
In total, five boys were involved in the riot that caused damage to vents, hatches, a television and lighting.
The court heard staff were required to evacuate the building and a four-hour negotiation with police ensued after the boys climbed on the roof.
Crown prosecutor Josh Francis said the two boys had also set a mattress on fire causing extensive damage and presented Judge John Coker photographs of the damage.
The court heard the riot was captured on CCTV cameras.
Both boys pleaded guilty to a range of charges including two counts each of endangering particular property by fire.
Defence barrister Kelly Stone for the 16-year-old said his client’s parents died when he was a young boy and he had struggled with a range of disabilities including foetal alcohol syndrome and poor impulse control.
Defence barrister Madonna Hayes for the 17-year-old said her client had also been recently diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome and was supported in court by his mother.
“(The boy) has several long-term predisposed factors that contributed to this offending,” she said.
“(He) has a background of family violence and exposure to anti-social behaviour, negative peer influence, defiance of authority and institutionalism, and poor emotional regulation and impulse control.”
The court heard the 16-year-old had a 16-page criminal history spanning 144 charges while the 17-year-old had an 18-page criminal history spanning 150 charges.
The 16-year-old had been sentenced to detention five times while the 17-year-old had been sentenced to detention 12 times totalling five years.
Judge Coker told the boys they could have sustained serious injuries. “I have seen photographs of you on the roof of the Brolga wing,” he said.
“You put yourselves at enormous risk as a result of the behaviours that occurred.”
After declaring the 258 days in pre-sentence custody, Judge Coker sentenced the 16-year-old to 16 months’ detention, to serve eight months.
After declaring the 294 days in pre-sentence custody, Judge Coker sentenced the 17-year-old to 14 months’ detention, to serve seven months.
No convictions were recorded for either boy.
Originally published as Teenagers sentenced for role in four-hour Cleveland Youth Detention Centre riot
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