Boy allegedly involved in running down Beach Rd cyclists granted bail

A 14-year-old boy who fled state care 46 times has been released from jail over his role in mowing down cyclists on Beach Rd, despite bragging he would “steal another car”.

The Holden Astra police believe was used in the alleged hit-runs on cyclists along Beach Rd in January. Picture: Instagram

A boy who absconded from state care 46 times has been granted bail again over the horror Beach Rd cyclist hit-run despite bragging he would “steal another car”.

The child, 14, was already on bail and living in residential care when police say he fled and was allegedly involved in running down cyclists in a stolen car in January.

The court heard the boy has “absconded” from residential care more than 40 times since September last year.

Currently behind bars in youth detention, he faced the Supreme Court on Thursday where he asked a judge to overrule a magistrate’s earlier decision and grant him bail again.

It was also revealed in court that the boy was overheard “boasting” that he would “steal another car”.

Avid cyclist Glen Gibson was allegedly struck by the Holden Astra along Beach Rd before the assailants posted the footage to social media.

A screen grab from the video showing the damage done to the windscreen of the car.

Justice James Elliott said he had “serious issues about whether (the boy) was thinking, ‘if I get bail I know what I’m doing when I get out’.”

Defence lawyer David De Witt dismissed the overheard comment, labelling it as “second hand hearsay” and said it would be “difficult to refuse this child bail based on who said what”.

Police prosecutor Amitoj Singh also conceded that this statement was “second hand hearsay”.

Despite his concerns, Justice Elliott granted a seven day provisional bail, with a final decision to be made next week.

In addressing the boy directly, Justice Elliott said he came “very close to not being bailed” and that “very strict” interim measures would be imposed for the next seven days, including that he must be supervised at all times when he left the residential care unit.

“I was deeply troubled by a lot of things I read in the last 24 hours,” His Honour said.

“This is your last chance … if you breach these conditions you’ll be going straight back to Parkville (youth justice centre).”

Cyclists across Melbourne were left on edge after the alleged hit-run. Picture: Picture: David Crosling

When asked multiple times by Justice Elliott as to whether he understood the conditions of his seven day bail the boy replied “yes your honour”.

In his submission to the court, Mr De Witt said the boy was a “vulnerable applicant” and would be better off in residential care where he would closely monitored and attend a specialised school, as opposed to being sent to Parkville Youth Justice Centre.

The court heard the boy had the language capabilities of a “five to seven year old”.

Mr De Witt said that sending the boy to youth detention would have a “disastrous consequence” on his long term prospects.

“Parkville as this court routinely hears is a difficult place to navigate … his social skills demonstrate just how impossible it is for him to advocate for himself,” he told the court.

The court heard the boy had also “spoken positively” about re-engaging with school and “really enjoyed” his new campus.

He has been charged with aggravated burglary, car theft, failing to stop after an accident and breaching bail.

The Herald Sun understands the boy was previously denied bail at a children’s court on March 8.

Six boys aged between 13 and 16 have been charged over the alleged hit-run, one of whom has pleaded guilty.

The alleged driver – a 16-year-old boy – was granted bail on Monday under strict conditions.

It comes as new crime statistics revealed that crimes committed by teenagers aged between 14 and 17 years old increased by nearly 30 per cent last year.