Spree teen’s rehab focus

Judge sees ‘reasonable prospects’

A TEEN who went on a twoday crime spree through Geelong, robbing teens at knifepoint and driving a stolen car on the wrong side of the road has been sentenced to more than two years in youth jail.

Connor Kennedy was 18 in March 2020 when he tried to flee police while driving on the wrong side of a road in Norlane, causing drivers to swerve to avoid a crash.

The County Court heard on Thursday that Kennedy’s crime spree came less than a fortnight after he was released on bail, and included breaking into homes with a mate to get cash to fuel his drug addiction.

Judge Irene Lawson said Kennedy, now 19, was ordered into youth jail because he needed more structure and support.

“The overriding consideration is rehabilitation. This young man does have reasonable prospects for rehabilitation,” Judge Lawson said.

The court was told Kennedy drove through a red light into the path of an oncoming vehicle as he attempted to flee police.

It came after he got behind the wheel of a stolen Volkswagen Passat in Norlane on March 21 about 12.30am.

Court documents state Kennedy’s driving caused “oncoming traffic to break heavily and swerve to narrowly avoid a collision”.

About 15 minutes earlier, Kennedy fled police by driving over a kerb and onto a footpath. His rampage ended when a police officer used a vehicle to nudge Kennedy’s car.

The court was told Kennedy’s offending on March 20 included the theft of handbags from a Newtown home, car theft from Bell Post Hill and an attempted burglary at Belmont.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Barrera said Kennedy’s Mum, aunty and uncle had died since 2019.

“His offending lacked a degree of sophistication … (and was completed) against a backdrop of personal difficulty,” Mr Barrera said.

The court heard that since his arrest Kennedy was allegedly involved in two jail assaults that resulted in time in solitary confinement.

The court heard Kennedy was “particularly immature” and susceptible to being influenced in adult jail.

Crown prosecutor Leigh Harrison raised the “influence” Kennedy would have in youth jail following the alleged assaults. The court was told there was a possibility Kennedy could be sent to adult jail if he misbehaved in youth jail.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to 12 charges including car theft, theft, armed robbery and conduct endangering serious injury, and was sentenced to 27 months in youth jail. He has served 306 days on remand.