Teenage girl in court for grievous bodily harm

A young woman who committed more than 70 offences in two years has been sentenced after running down her ex-partner’s mother, leaving her with a shattered ankle and a brain injury.

A teenage girl who committed more than 70 offences in the past two years has been sentenced after running over her ex-partner’s mother. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

A teenage girl who committed more than 70 offences in the past two years has been sentenced after running over her ex-partner’s mother, leaving her with a shattered ankle and a brain injury.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges including the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving without a licence, driving an unregistered car and driving an uninsured car when she fronted Hervey Bay Children Court.

The girl cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that on June 27 at 4am the defendant drove the car to her former partners’ property on Ganger St, Maryborough with a friend.

The discussion between the three quickly became volatile as the friend berated the man for the circumstances which led to the end of the relationship.

Woken by the commotion, the ex partner’s mother ran out to the front of the property and told the defendant to leave.

The court heard the teenager then turned the car around, drove it at the victim, hit her and caused her to be dragged under the car for a distance.

Despite then fleeing the scene, the car soon ran out of fuel which led to teen being arrested by police.

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Upon being detained, she undertook a mandatory blood alcohol test which came back with a level of 0.132, more than twice the legal limit.

She spent 157 days in custody before her sentencing on Friday morning.

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Crown Prosecutor Katrina Overell and defense lawyer Allana Davie debated whether or not the car had been purposely used as a weapon.

After much deliberation, Judge Nicholas Andreatidis rejected the notion the vehicle had been used as a weapon.

In emotional scenes, the victim spoke to the court about how the incident changed her life.

“I cannot do what I love anymore, I live in constant fear, my independence is gone.” she said.

“Writing this statement has brought back memories I wish would disappear forever.”

The defendant was seen sobbing as the victim read the statement.

With the defendant’s 70 offences over two years Mrs Overell said “she has not demonstrated rehabilitation within the community, has no remorse and exhibits a clear lack of anger control”.

Judge Andreatidis said he was “troubled about a child going to an adult prison”.

While he described the efforts the defendant had made in custody, including obtaining a white card and forklift licence as “fantastic”, he said, “for your age your criminal history is appalling, 70 offences, how is that possible?”.

He told her “your efforts show you are not stupid and you are working towards becoming a functional member of the community” but “you gravitate towards pro-criminal, anti-social people”.

He told her she needs to break the association with undesirable people, “when you get out of detention what are you going to do when they rock up drunk and high in a stolen V8 commodore and invite you on a f***ing joy ride?”.

“If I see you again you will be an adult and I will not have to worry about the Youth Justice Act regulations”.

Judge Andreatidis sentenced her to 14 months in youth detention, but she will be released after serving half of the sentence.

Convictions were not recorded.

As people left the courtroom the Judge could be seen with his head in his hands.

Originally published as Teenage girl in court for grievous bodily harm