16-year-old charged with assault over spilt milk after 11 Don Dale workers ‘ground’ boys

A teenager has revealed Territory kids were locked down in bug-infested cells due to chronic staff shortages at Don Dale. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO.

A boy who spent days locked down in a bug-infested cell claims he was acting in self defence when he threw a cup of milk at a Don Dale detention centre worker.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting three workers while on remand in the notorious Territory children’s jail.

The now 18 year old revealed to Darwin’s Youth Court on Friday the conditions he and other boys experienced while locked in H-Block on October 31, 2021 — describing blood smeared on the walls, cells crawling with ants and cockroaches, and rolling lockdowns.

He also told the court one of the Youth Justice Officers involved in the incident was known among the boys as “the kid basher”.

Judge Greg McDonald heard the then 16 year old had previously been noted for his good behaviour at Don Dale, but when he re-entered the infamous prison in October he had a difficult time.

The teenager said he had told YJOs there were some boys he wanted to avoid, including one teen who stabbed his classmate and another who had a history of assaults.

A former Don Dale detainee has described blood smeared on the walls, cells crawling with ants and cockroaches, and rolling lockdowns leaving him alone. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“The guards ended up putting me over there (in their block) to try scare me … intimidate me,” he said.

Separated from his friends, in a block of his “enemies” and in near-constant lockdowns with no television, the young boy also told the court he had threatened to self harm twice and was moved to the “at risk” cells.

“There were more reasons … it was a build up from the start,” he said.

But in the constantly monitored “lonely” cell, the teenager said: “I started going mad again”.

He said he lied during a meeting with the centre’s doctor in an attempt to be removed from the ‘at risk’ cells.

“If you go in on the weekend they can’t assess you until a weekday,” he said.

“I just hated the fact I was in there … It was cold, dark.”

Just four days later, the 16 year old was involved in the alleged assault of three YJOs while protesting a new lockdown.

Youth Justice Officers appear to hold a boy in a headlock during an incident on October 31 2021 at Don Dale Youth Detention Center.

He said the day before the incident due to staff shortages H-block was in a “rolling unlock”, meaning only half the boys were allowed out at a time.

The court heard on the morning of October 31, the centre was again understaffed and the boys ate breakfast in their cells.

The teenager said he and his friends were only given a short time outside, before the warning came that they would be eating lunch in lockdown.

CCTV showed the 16-year-old look at the cameras and sign the letters “T” and “V” — a silent protest over his broken television which he said had been asking staff to fix for days.

When the guards entered the recreation room, the boy said he was clear: “I’m not going back to my cell unless I have a TV”.

“All I remember saying was ‘I’m not going’,” he said.

The other boys also refused to go back due to bug infestations.

He said as more guards entered the room, they were told by the team leader: “You are going back to your cells whether you like it or not. Even if we have to pin you down … handcuff you and hand you back to your cells”.

A 16-year-old boy is allegedly restrained face down by Youth Justice Officers during an incident on October 31 2021 at Don Dale Youth Detention Center.

The teenager said he picked up a paper cup of milk and started spitting in it as a “deterrent” and a “weapon”, if the guards moved to grab him.

“I thought they wouldn’t want milk on them so they wouldn’t charge me,” he said.

“I just wanted them to listen to us.”

He said when a YJO — he referred to as “the kid basher” — started to “make his move” and step towards him he threw the paper cup and missed.

He said in a “split second” reaction he swung at another worker, but the worker dodged it.

CCTV showed the 16 year old and his three friends were ‘grounded’ by 11 adults within seconds.

The court has previously heard the YJOs used the Maybo physical restraint technique, which is meant to be reserved as a last resort.

CCTV footage appeared to show three officers restraining the teen face down on the floor as they tried to put him in handcuffs.

The teenager said one of the female YJOs was standing on the back of his neck and pinched right underneath his nipple, saying “it stung at the time”.

A teenage boy is allegedly held down by the throat by a youth justice officers during an incident on October 31 2021 at Don Dale Youth Detention Center. Picture: Supplied

Another officer appeared to hold a young boy in a headlock, while another was held to the ground by his neck as another Youth Justice Officer forced his body down.

A fourth boy was restrained by three officers, with one officer appearing to pull at his legs to flip him over as two officers held him on the ground.

More CCTV cameras showed the boys being taken to their cells, with one marched backwards while another was carried off like a plank.

The teenager told the court he was “angry and screaming” and may have accidentally spat on a female officer.

Multiple Youth Justice Officers allegedly restraining a teenage boy during an incident on October 31 2021 at Don Dale Youth Detention Center.

“I can’t remember much, just being handcuffed and carried to the cell,” he said.

He said once thrown into the cell: “I was just miserable”.

“I didn’t want to be in there.”

The now 18 year old told the judge “It was not fair … the way we got treated”.

He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assaulting a worker, making threats and being engaged in violent conduct.

The boy’s defence lawyer Clancy Dane said the key issues would be whether his client was acting in self defence, given the alleged unlawful or non-compliant actions of the Don Dale youth justice officers.

The hearing will continue on Tuesday.

Originally published as 16-year-old charged with assault over spilt milk after 11 Don Dale workers ‘ground’ boys