‘Gutless’ youth offender faces 20 offences under new laws in Townsville District Court

A 14-year-old boy fronted his victims in court and apologised for stealing and breaking into their family homes during a shocking break and enter spree across Townsville.

Teenagers in underpass tunnel.Photo Nicholas Falconer / Sunshine Coast Daily

A boy who was in a group of juveniles who broke into homes and cars across Townsville has been made by a judge to turn and face the victims in court and apologise, for the ‘gutless’ offending as he was sentenced under the new legislation.

The 14-year-old boy had already been dealt with for 118 offences, the court was told – they ranged from property to violent and theft crimes, and he now sat in Townsville District Court for breaking into homes between March and November last year.

Crown prosecutor Grace Ollason told the court that despite the young boy’s offending beginning before the law changes, he continued to offend after being arrested and released on bail which post-dated the latest legislation and could therefore be dealt with under the act for all offences.

During the crime spree he and a group of others wearing a balaclava entered people’s homes in Idalia and Burdell and stole wallets, car keys and vehicles, and in one instance his co-offender used a knife to threaten someone who tried to stop them.

One man whose kids were home for the terrifying break-in, chased the group down the street, Ms Ollason said.

Judge William Everson told the boy to turn around in the dock and face the man who sat in the courtroom, along with another man who the boy had stolen from and asked him to apologise.

“Sorry,” the boy quietly said as the two men stared him in the face.

When the judge asked if he meant it, the boy replied “yes”.

His Honour asked the boy how he would have felt if someone broke into his family’s home to which the boy said, “scared”.

“It’s not something to be proud of,” Judge Everson said.

“It’s gutless. Scaring kids is really gutless.”

Generic photo, Townsville Court House. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Despite the boy appearing remorseful in court, the judge acknowledged a pre-court report where the person who interviewed him said he claimed he was sorry but was “grinning” and “laughing” at the same time.

“I sincerely hope you are remorseful because the pre-sentence custody report says you presented with a confident bravado when questioned about the offending,” he said.

“I have been touched by the victim impact statements. The sanctity of these people’s homes were violated by you. The emotional wellbeing of their children was affected adversely by what you did.”

The boy’s lawyer, defence barrister Ross Malcomson said he was not going to suggest probation or a community service order on behalf of his client and agreed a sentence of detention with a strict release order was appropriate under the new legislation.

He said the boy’s parents were both in and out of jail and he had been exposed to violence and drug abuse throughout childhood.

The court had been told the offending mostly occurred between the hours of 3am to 5:30am.

“Simply not attending school, having idle time and being around peers with involvement in the criminal justice system isn’t working,” he said.

“A period of detention suspended under a conditional release order program would give an opportunity – granted, he’s been given opportunities in the past, but perhaps a more severe release order.”

The crown, Ms Ollason told the court this was the first significant period of time the boy spent in detention and he had breached multiple orders from prior sentences.

“The hopes are that he would be subject to an order he hasn’t had yet,” she said.

The boy pleaded guilty to 20 offences which included armed robbery with violence in company, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, break and enter, fraud and stealing.

He was sentenced to 12 months jail with an immediate conditional release order of three months as His Honour declared the 160 days spent in detention as time already served. No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as ‘Gutless’ youth offender faces 20 offences under new laws in Townsville District Court