Teen on ‘ice’ stole and rode off on motorcycle

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who stole an $8000 motorcycle from a Toowoomba dealership in broad daylight while high on “ice” and rode off without a helmet has escaped conviction and been placed on probation.

At the time of the theft on February 13, the teenager, who as a juvenile cannot be named, was subject to a probation order imposed by the District Court for his role in the armed robbery of a Toowoomba taxi driver with two fellow juvenile offenders when he was just 13 years of age, the same court has been told.

Prosecutor Cameron Wilkins told the court the motorcycle dealership owner had challenged the teenage thief as he wheeled the motorcycle from the Mort St business but he had simply swung a punch at the complainant man before starting up the bike and riding off.

After speeding through a red traffic light at the Bridge St intersection nearby, the teenager had ridden west on Bridge St at about 70kmh into West St where he mounted the footpath and rode on, he said.

The bike, which was advertised for sale at $7990, had not been found, the court heard.

Police found the teenager hiding under a mattress at his home two days later, Mr Wilkins said.

He blamed his offending on the dealership’s owner for leaving motorcycles on display at the front of the shop, thereby offering him the opportunity to take the bike.

Mr Wilkins submitted that statement showed the teen had little insight into his offending.

The 15-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawfully using a motor vehicle and common assault.

Mr Wilkins said the teenager had been subject to three separate probation orders and four community service orders since he was 13 and submitted a period of detention was within range.

The lad’s barrister David Jones said his client had come from a dysfunctional family and that the teen’s father had been jailed for producing methylamphetamine (ice).

However, his client planned on relocating to the Goondiwindi area and was seeking work in the shearing sheds, he said.

Judge Craig Chowdhury told the teenager he was on his “last chance”.

“You’re at a crossroads in your life,” His Honour said.

Judge Chowdhury ordered the convictions not be recorded and placed the teenager on two years probation.