Charges laid over holiday break-in

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy charged with breaking into homes in the Oakey and Toowoomba area has been granted bail with strict conditions. Police objected to the boy’s bail application when he appeared before Toowoomba Children’s Court via watch house video on Tuesday. Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb said the lad was a risk to the community. “The parents say he’s out of control and they want him to go to ‘juvie’ as a consequence,” he said. The boy’s fingerprints had been found at various crime scenes, he said. However, duty solicitor Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, for the boy told the court his client was only 13 and had a “limited history”. Mr Bouchier said it was unlikely his client would be sentenced to a term of detention on such matters. Mr Bouchier said the teenager was staying out of trouble when he was playing rugby league in the district, but he tended to get into trouble when he had nothing to do.

Magistrate Kay Philipson said it was concerning that the boy had been sentenced by the same court on December 14 and committed offences the very next day.

The boy’s mother watched proceedings from the court’s public gallery.

Mr Bouchier said the lad had made full admissions to police to his involvement in the alleged crimes, and he had spoken to police in the presence of his mother.

Ms Philipson said she could put conditions on the boy’s bail to keep him busy.

“Are you going to comply with the conditions?” Ms Philipson asked the boy. “No,” he replied. However, when asked if he would prefer to stay in custody instead, the lad again answered “No”.

Ms Philipson granted the boy bail on condition he abide by a nightly curfew between 6pm and 6am and live with his parents and have no contact with two co-accused juveniles whose names were read out.