Youth offender the first of 50 underage criminals to agree to be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet

An underage criminal who has agreed to wear a 24-hour electronic monitoring device as part of a controversial trial says he is a fan of the tracking technology.

A prolific youth offender has become the first child in the state to be fitted with a 24-hour electronic monitoring device.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be legally named, walked free from court on Wednesday after spending the past three months in a youth jail.

He is the first of 50 of the state’s incorrigible underage criminals to agree to be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet under a controversial new trial.

The new bail legislation, passed by the Allan government to counter the state’s youth crime problem, allows children aged 14 to 18 to be fitted with an ankle bracelet on the condition they agree to wearing the device.

The teen is the first underage criminal in Victoria to agree to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device. Picture: Supplied

Magistrate Gail Hubble court ordered the boy to be assessed for an electronic device a fortnight ago.

Court staff placed the tracking device on his left ankle in the holding cells of a children’s court before he was released to his mother on Wednesday morning.

His mother, who also cannot be legally identified, told the Herald Sun her son was “quite happy” to be released with the tracking device.

She said he would rather be fitted with the device than return to Parkville for a further stint behind bars.

“He was pretty happy to be out,” she said.

“The minute he was out, he was on the phone to his mates.”

The boy’s mother said the device offered some sort of security for her and the community.

She said she has planned to take her son to the movies and to get a haircut in the coming days.

He still has several appointments and behavioural programs scheduled in the coming days.

“I’m happy with it, I’m happy if it’s on for two weeks and I’ll be happy if it’s on for longer,” she added.

“At least I know he’s going to be around.”

The device will notify youth justice staff instantly if he does not abide by his 8pm to 6am curfew.

It can notify staff that he is an “imminent danger” if he breaches his strict bail conditions.

They will also be notified instantly if he attempts to tamper with the device.

They are then expected to call triple-0 and report his current location.

The teen has been prosecuted over a plethora of aggravated burglaries, car thefts and home invasions.

He will be formally sentenced in early June.

It is expected two more youths who have been assessed for the trial will face court on Thursday.

Originally published as Youth offender the first of 50 underage criminals to agree to be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet