Cairns Childrens Court: 11yo caught behind the wheel of stolen car while on bail

An 11-year-old boy caught behind driving a stolen car while on bail sat in the dock swinging his legs and making handprints on the glass as he waited to be sentenced by a Cairns magistrate.

An 11-year-old boy caught behind driving a stolen car while on bail sat in the dock swinging his legs and making handprints on the glass as he waited to be sentenced by a Cairns magistrate.

The Whitfield boy and a 13-year-old Mareeba boy were charged after being located near the intersection of Collins Ave and Pyne St in the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 29.

The boy appeared in Childrens Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to six charges including three counts of enter premises, and one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle, drive unlicensed and breach of bail.

The court heard the boy was currently on bail for other break and enter, unlawful use and robbery with actual violence charges.

Police prosecutor Marta Chrabkowska told the court the boy entered a dwelling in Edge Hill and stole car keys to a Corolla.

“They drove that car around Edge Hill and they broke into NOA restaurant and the TPG Architects office on Collins Ave,” she said.

Police were notified by the owner of the restaurant after he called police after being notified by his CCTV security system.

Cairns court house. Picture: Brendan Radke

“When police arrived they saw the Toyota and the boy was at the driver seat of the car.”

The boy had been on a good behaviour bond since September and the prosecutor applied to revoke the boy’s bail while he awaits other charges to be finalised in the court.

The boy’s defence lawyer Karen Longhurst told Magistrate Mandy Bowen the boy had spent almost 30 hours in the watch house since his arrest and described the incident as a “silly breakout”.

Ms Longhurst said the boy has had some issues but had been attending school regularly and undergoing activities for rehabilitation.

“He has been quieter, he stays around the home, helps around the house and is an otherwise good boy, his mother tells me,” Ms Longhurst said.

“Something happened that afternoon, he ran away after school and mum was searching for him frantically as these offences happened.

“In his words he got in with the wrong kids that night.”

Magistrate Bowen told the boy he put everyone at risk by driving the car.

“You drove a car on the road putting the kids in the car at risk, people on the street, people driving,” she said.

“You can’t drive a car, you’re 11, I don't even know how you managed to operate the foot pedals.

“Do you understand how dangerous that is?”

Ms Bowen put the boy on a four-month probation order and refused the application to revoke bail.

The boy will appear again on Friday as his other matters are mentioned in Childrens Court.

The 13-year-old has been charged with one count each of enter premises, and unlawful use of motor vehicle, his matters will be heard at a later date.

Originally published as Cairns Childrens Court: 11yo caught behind the wheel of stolen car while on bail