Isabellah Maher, 19, called in two bomb hoaxes at Grovedale Secondary College

A St Leonards teenager who twice threatened to “blow up” a Geelong high school has been warned she could be sent to jail.

Isabellah Maher.

A St Leonards teenager threatened to “blow up” a Geelong high school twice in eight days.

Isabellah Maher, 19, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday to charges including making bomb hoax calls, using a carriage service to menace, and aggravated burglary.

About 1.17pm on February 6 this year, Maher called Grovedale Secondary College and told a receptionist: “I’m going to blow up the school you f--kers”.

The school evacuated about 700 students and 100 staff members, moving them onto the oval.

Maher called the school again at 1.56pm and 1.58pm, saying: “I’m in D block and I’m going to stab everyone”.

Police attended and could not find any suspects or suspicious items, deeming the call a hoax.

About 1.12pm on February 14, Maher called the college again and told the receptionist there was a bomb in the school’s theatre.

Staff and students were evacuated a second time.

On February 19, police arrested Maher at her home and seized her phone.

She told officers she was in a group chat with students from the school and a female pupil had asked her to call in a bomb threat because “she didn’t want to get to afternoon classes”.

Maher also called in a bomb threat to Berwick Secondary College on February 14 this year and told a receptionist a bomb was going to explode in the library.

On April 10 this year, Maher sent a threatening message to 7News after they aired a story on youth offenders bragging about their crimes online.

Maher wrote on Instagram: “I’ll make sure you have no office, I’ll stab you all” and tagged the news outlet.

Maher also went to a man’s Wyndham Vale home twice, on January 16 and March 8 this year, with a weapon and demanded cash.

A mental health report stated Maher has a “reduced capacity to make informed decisions and exercise self-control”.

Maher’s lawyer said her client, who receives 24/7 support from a team of carers, was beginning to understand how her behaviour affected others and the consequences that come with those actions.

Isabellah Maher.

She said Maher has a complex mental health history and has been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, PTSD and depression.

“Her immaturity and diagnosis may mean it may take longer for her to develop consequential thinking,” her lawyer said.

“She is still a young offender and rehabilitation should be at the forefront of the court’s mind.”

Magistrate Peter Mellas described Maher’s behaviour as “disruptive and frightening” and warned her he could have “locked her up”.

“You are a danger to people,” he said.

“Many people would say how many chances do you get before you need to be locked up.”

Maher will be sentenced on December 3.

“Everything you do from here is going to make a difference to what happens next,” Mr Mellas said.

Originally published as Isabellah Maher, 19, called in two bomb hoaxes at Grovedale Secondary College