Trio breaks into pregnant Toowoomba woman’s home stealing and setting fire to car

A 14-year-old Toowoomba boy was pushed into a life of crime after being written off by his family will be released from jail after pleading guilty to unlawful use for the 9th time.

Toowoomba teen, 14, jailed for 106 days and placed on a 12 month probation order, after pleading guilty to breaking into a Toowoomba home and helping two co-offenders steal a car that was soon after lit on fire. Picture: File

A regional Queensland court heard following a 14-year-old boy’s arrest for property offences in 2023 Toowoomba officers couldn’t find one family member willing to collect the child.

When the boy was sentenced for his most recent property offences before the Children’s Court of Queensland at Toowoomba on November 7, the court heard the teen’s lack of family support pushed him to create a support network with criminal offenders.

On Thursday, the now 15-year-old was sentenced to a 106 day jail term and 12 month probation order upon his release after he pleaded guilty to participating in a burglary, stealing a car, and arson of the car.

The teen was using meth at the time after recently being introduced to the drug, the court heard.

The court heard the crime occurred at a Toowoomba home in early 2024 where the boy and two others, one of which was an adult, broke into a home and stole a car, which was later found burnt out.

A pregnant woman was at the home along with others when the break in occurred.

At the time of the offending, the teen was subject to three community-based orders and had eight offences of unlawful use on his criminal history.

The teen, who was placed in state care soon after no one would collect him from the Toowoomba watch house in 2023, has been in held on remand since his arrest in May 2024.

The teen was released on probation after serving 106 days on remand.

He will live with a foster parent in another region away from Toowoomba and criminal influences.

The court heard his foster carer will work with the boy’s family to mend their relationship.

No conviction was recorded, given his young age, early plea, remorse, and the importance of his future employment.