16-year-old pleads guilty to home invasion rape

A teen who raped a woman as her husband was held at knifepoint was on probation at the time of the horrific act, while he been the subject of Child Safety notifications since he was one.

A teen who raped a woman as her husband was held at knifepoint in Far North Queensland had an eight-page criminal history and was on probation at the time of the horrific act, a court has heard.

The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including five counts of rape and two counts of deprivation of liberty, in Cairns Childrens Court on Thursday as the matter was committed to the Childrens Court of Queensland for sentence at a yet to be determined date.

Police have previously alleged that on February 21 this year the woman was taken at knifepoint and raped while a blade was held to her husband’s throat in the home invasion, allegedly at the hands of three teenagers.

The husband and wife in their 30s were asleep in their bed when they were allegedly woken by the three teenage boys – two aged 15 and one 16 at the time – who held them at knifepoint about 3.30am.

As one of the boys allegedly held the knife to the man, the other two took the woman to an outside area of the Manunda home where she was raped.

The boy was also sentenced on a number of unrelated charges, including domestic violence, break-ins and a serious assault of an official.

Police prosecutor Bronwyn Sharp told the court the teenager had an eight-page criminal history and had previously been placed on probation twice.

“There has been no break in offending. He is sentenced and immediately continues to offend,” Ms Sharp said.

A teen who raped a woman as her husband was held at knifepoint in Far North Queensland had an eight-page criminal history and had been on probation twice before the horrific act, a court has heard. Picture: File image

“He has little regard for the court process.”

His lawyer, Hayley Fox, told the court the boy turned 16 while he had been in custody.

She said he had a significantly disadvantaged upbringing surrounded by neglect, alcohol and drug abuse, and family violence.

The court heard he had been the subject of Child Safety notifications since he was one year old.

“He has been under the care of Child Safety for some years now,” Ms Fox said.

“He is a young man with a lack of guidance and support.

“He has had no positive role models and does not have the skills yet to say no.”

Ms Fox said he had been diagnosed with ADHD and attachment disorder and had a preliminary diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The teenager was sentenced to 145 days in detention for the charges unrelated to the home invasion attack.

Magistrate Gelma Meoli said the boy had a “significantly difficult childhood” which resulted in poor choices with peers and substance abuse.

He did not apply for bail and remains in remand as he awaits sentencing in the higher court.

One of the other teenagers, a 15-year-old, had his matters committed to the higher court for trial on Tuesday.

He is yet to enter a formal plea.

All three accused boys are being held in custody in different juvenile justice facilities, with the third boy scheduled to appear again before a magistrate later this month for mention of their charges.

He is also yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Originally published as 16-year-old pleads guilty to home invasion rape