OUT OF CONTROL
Judge says teenage dangerous driver had long history in court
THE 17- year- old driver of a car which caused a terrifying highway crash has appeared in court 20 times since the age of 12.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Townsville District Court yesterday to be sentenced over the crash on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville on December 22, 2017.
Judge Gregory Lynham said the boy had been before the court on 20 separate occasions and appeared to have “simply run wild”.
THE teenage driver of a stolen car involved in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway days before Christmas had run wild, appearing before the court 20 times since the age of 12, a court has heard.
Footage released by police in the wake of the crash showed the stolen car speed past vehicles, swerving wildly, before colliding with the rear of another vehicle at the Frosty Mango.
The other vehicle rolled and its three occupants – elderly Ingham residents travelling to Townsville for a medical appointment – received serious, long- lasting injuries.
The 17- year- old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Townsville District Court yesterday to be sentenced over the horrific crash of December 22, 2017.
But Judge Gregory Lynham adjourned the sentence for a month so that more information about his education and rehabilitation prospects could be prepared.
Judge Lynham said the boy had been before the court on 20 separate occasions and appeared to have “simply run wild”.
“He’s been given every sentencing option ranging from probation to community service … under the old boot camp orders he was ordered to serve boot camp orders,” he said. “He’s been given detention, he’s been given conditional release, none of that has in any way deterred him from engaging in very appalling offending quite frankly.”
The court heard the boy was part of a group of young offenders who stole a vehicle from a West End home and he drove it to Ingham, with a co- offender as a passenger.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said on the return trip to Townsville the boy and his passenger were travelling behind another car, which also had been stolen. “The defendant was overtaking numerous other cars at speed on their way back to Townsville,” she said.
“( The passenger) estimated the defendant was travelling in excess of 180km/ h.”
Ms Sheppard said after the crash the first car returned to pick up the defendant and his passenger and they fled.
“He callously showed no remorse or empathy towards his victims and the potential for injuries would have been obvious to him,” she said.
The teenager faces charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and driving without a licence over the incident.
He will also be sentenced for an armed robbery at a Garbutt bottle shop in No- vember 2017, where he threatened a staff member with scissors before stealing $ 1645.
Defence barrister Scott Geeves said the boy was “deeply sorry” for his actions and the hurt they had caused.
Judge Lynham said it was not uncommon for juvenile offenders to come from difficult backgrounds but there was nothing in the pre- sentence report to indicate that on this occasion.
“As I read this pre- sentence report it seems clear to me that although of course having to raise ( him) as a single mother, she’s done nothing but an exemplary job in trying to provide him with opportunities in life,” he said.
The sentencing was adjourned for a month and the boy was remanded in custody.