Year 12 private school student fronts court for breaching protection order placed by police after downward spiral in mental health

A teenager who stopped taking her medications after her McDonald’s shifts, which ended at 3am-7am on weekends, led to drowsiness in her Year 12 classes, has had a protection order slapped on her.

The teen girl was left tired and stressed from working late into the night.

A teenager who stopped taking her medications after her McDonald’s shifts, which ended at 11pm on school nights and 3am-7am on weekends, led to drowsiness in her Year 12 classes, has had a protection order slapped on her by police.

The now 18 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty on November 3 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court, while wearing a private school uniform, to one count of breaching the protection order.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said police were called to the defendant’s residence on September 30 for a domestic disturbance involving the defendant “going off”, trying to do burnouts and yelling at the victim.

She said the defendant’s mother and male victim had forcibly removed the teenager from the residence.

Ms Bain said the defendant tried to smash a car window to get her phone after her mother refused to unlock the car.

She said the defendant also punched the male victim’s motorbike.

Ms Bain said that when police arrived, the defendant told them “I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t want to live.”

Defence lawyer Rebecca Harris said her client, a Year 12 student, had been placed on the protection order the day after her 18th birthday.

She said the defendant worked for McDonald’s from January to October 2021.

“She was working quite late shifts, finishing as late as 11pm on school nights and 3am-7am on weekends,” Ms Harris said.

She said the teenager, who had her drivers licence, found this very stressful on her schooling and she stopped taking her mental health medications, which she took before bed, because they left her drowsy at school.

Ms Harris said the defendant had changed jobs and was now back on her medications.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale placed the teen on a six-month Good Behaviour order with a $300 recognisance.

A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Year 12 private school student fronts court for breaching protection order placed by police after downward spiral in mental health