MPs weigh in as Greall Tighe, 18, bailed on 17 break and enter charges following alleged teen crime spree

A teen was remanded in custody after allegedly committing a string of break-ins and home invasions in late January. He’s now back out in the community, in what has been labelled the state’s latest “bail fail”.

Greall Tighe allegedly committed a string of shop break-ins and midnight home invasions with a group of friends. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A teenager hit with a staggering 17 aggravated break and enter charges after an alleged six-day crime spree across Sydney has been released from custody, in what has been labelled the state’s latest “bail fail”.

Greall Tighe allegedly committed a string of shop break-ins and midnight home invasions with a group of friends in late January, just two weeks after his 18th birthday.

It is alleged the group stole luxury cars from family homes - including a Mercedes owned by celebrity skin queen Jelena Vucica Shah - and took them on wild joy rides across the city.

Yet, despite the seriousness of the allegations and the sheer volume of charges - the most grievous of which carry maximum penalties of 20 years behind bars - Tighe was granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court this week, after revealing he had been “jumped” behind bars and stabbed seven times.

Tighe vowed to abide by a series of bail conditions, which allow him to roam free and unsupervised in the community during the day, but abide by a curfew to live at his aunt’s home in Dulwich Hill at night.

Greall Tighe allegedly committed a string of shop break-ins and midnight home invasions with a group of friends. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Victims advocate Howard Brown said the decision to release Tighe was alarming and fell short of the public expectations.

“In my view, there’s no question this is a bail fail,” he said.

“The primary facts of the current indictable matters he’s facing indicate there’s a risk - and a substantial risk - to the safety of the community.

“All decisions made by the court must engender the public’s confidence in the administration of justice … how does this decision do that?”

When approached for comment, NSW lawyer general Michael Daley would not be drawn on whether the decision passed the “pub test”, only saying his office had requested a copy of the court transcript.

“The NSW Government has strengthened bail laws to break the cycle of criminal offending and keep the community safe,” he said.

“We are continuing to look at ways to improve community safety which is the priority of this government.”

NSW opposition lawyer general Alister Henskens said the state’s bail laws were broken.

“The Minns government is incapable of effective bail reform,” he said.

“Rather than using electronic monitoring to ensure that bail conditions like curfews and home detention are complied with, the Minns government is bringing forward legislation this week to reduce the availability of electronic monitoring in a case like this.

“Chris Minns should be expanding the use of electronic monitoring in the interests of community safety.”

According to court documents, Tighe first came to police attention on January 22, when he and his friends were allegedly caught joy riding in Ms Shah’s Mercedes, which had been stolen from her mother-in-law’s house in Cherrybrook in the middle of the night.

Ms Shah, the founder of celebrity beauty hotspot The Cosmetic Lounge, told the Telegraph she noticed the vehicle gone when she woke up the next morning and immediately reported the incident to police.

Cosmetic surgeon Jelena Vucica Shah

“Initially I was concerned for the welfare of my family and mother-in-law, concerned that whoever took the car may have intentions to come back,” she said.

Tighe is not charge with stealing the car, nor breaking into that home, however it is alleged he and his friends were captured on CCTV breaking into a nearby Ampol Service Station a short time later and stealing the cash register.

Court documents state Tighe was allegedly involved in break-ins at nine shops and two private homes on January 23, including one where a Honda Civic was stolen while the owners were asleep.

On January 26, Tighe and his friends allegedly broke into a waterfront home in Chiswick and stole a Maserati belonging to a Sydney businesswoman, then set fire to a stolen Honda CRV at Marrickville.

Four days later, the group allegedly forced their way inside a home at Kogarah Bay and stole a BMW.

Tighe was arrested on February 6, charged with 17 counts of aggravated break and enter, three counts of being carried in a stolen car and one count of damaging property by fire, and remanded in custody.

Justice Wright agreed to grant bail on Monday after Tighe said the jail attack had been a pivotal moment for him that had changed his attitude.

The Ampol petrol station on Shepherds Drive in Cherrybrook. Picture: Google.

“It’s traumatising … I’ve almost got my life taken off from me, basically, and it’s a wake-up call to be honest, you know,” he said.

Tighe told the court he planned to spend his time on bail “training” at home and helping his aunt around the house.

Tighe is yet to enter pleas to the charges. The case will return to court later this month.

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Originally published as MPs weigh in as Greall Tighe, 18, bailed on 17 break and enter charges following alleged teen crime spree