Bailed teen ‘in stolen car’

AN alleged teen car thief was arrested after driving past an off-duty police officer walking her dog, a court has heard.

The 14-year-old boy was refused bail in a children’s court on Thursday after a magistrate learned the youth had been granted strict bail conditions only six days earlier.

Police allege the teen and a co-offender stole a Nissan Pulsar from North Geelong train station on Wednesday, before using it to steal $60 worth of fuel from a Corio service station.

Police claim that about 6.15pm the stolen car was driven past an off-duty officer who was walking her dog in Whit- tington with her boyfriend.

At that stage, police did not know who had stolen the car.

It’s claimed the officer — who knew the boy well from previous dealings with police — spotted the teen behind the wheel of the Pulsar with two other youths.

After the officer yelled out two of their names, it is alleged the youths looked at her “in shock and with mouths wide open”.

The boy was arrested the following morning.

In court, the police informant said the 14-year-old was facing a “massive” number of charges on separate matters, including multiple assaults, 11 burglaries and 12 car thefts.

“I feel the family has no control,” the informant said.

“He has a complete disregard for court-issued bail conditions and I have extreme concerns for public safety as the accused continues to drive stolen vehicles around Geelong. He also has a history of engaging in pursuits with police.”

The magistrate initially said he was thinking of granting bail to allow the boy to attend a family get-together in Halls Gap during Easter.

But it later emerged the boy’s grandmother was, as punishment for continued offending, refusing to drive the boy to the town.

The magistrate refused bail, citing the teen’s unacceptable risk of committing further crimes. The boy will return to court next week.