Brayden Ayres, 18, refused bail on allegation of stealing mum’s lawnmower

A METH addicted teenager is accused of offering to help his mum out with yard work, only to steal her lawnmower

Brayden Ayres, 18, was refused bail and will remain behind bars on stealing and assault charges. Picture: Facebook/Supplied

A METH addicted teenager is accused of offering to help his mum out with yard work, only to steal her lawnmower.

Brayden Ayres, 18, was refused bail in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday a string of assault, stealing and breach of bail charges.

Ayres was arrested after not fronting court in March, which Judge John Neill said was a case of “this young man (being) in jail because he has chosen to be”.

The court heard he told police he didn’t feel like showing up to court because he “looked like a slob and smelt like sh*t”.

Ayres’s lawyer, Catherine Voumard, said her client didn’t have the support of family to help him get court.

Mr Neill said: “Why does an adult person need support to come to court?”

Mr Neill said Ayres’s criminal record, which included six bail breaches, showed the teen appeared used to the “approach in the youth justice court” of a judge “saying, ‘naughty boy’, and letting him back out”.

Ms Voumard said her client “simply hasn’t had an adult court tell him how serious it is to breach bail”.

Ayres wanted bail so he could spend time at Bushmob in Alice Springs and get help with his drug problem.

Ms Voumard said her client understood he would be facing time in Alice Springs prison if he left the rehab centre.

Mr Neill said he was concerned Ayres would skip bail or reoffend if granted bail.

Ayres will return to court at a later date.