Teenager’s ban over Facebook

A WARWICK teenager has been refused bail and will be remanded in police custody to face charges including identity theft, stalking and harassing neighbours over the telephone.

The 18-year-old appeared by videolink from Warwick in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court, where magistrate Bevan Manthey said there was real concern about the prospect of re-offending.

The teenager was arrested on Tuesday after he breached bail conditions banning him from accessing the internet.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine made submissions for bail to be granted on the grounds the defendant suffered an intellectual disability and mental health issues, but was refused.

The court heard the teenager’s parents would take their internet router to work with them, to stop their son from accessing the web.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said the parents had unlocked a mobile phone, giving their son permission to upload a photo of himself to Facebook.

The court also heard said the defendant accessed the Facebook account of a woman who had been harassing his family.

“I have listened this morning to a number of telephone messages from her and from her father to the defendant and his family which are really nasty in nature,” Mrs Hine said.

“There is a lot going on behind the scenes.”

But Mr Manthey said he had “real concern” about the prospect of the teenager reoffending.

“My concern is he was on strict bail conditions, He was remanded in custody last time I was called for a breach in bail conditions so it is a pretty strong objection to bail,” he said.

The teenager will face one count each of unlawful use of carriage service to menace or harass, wilful damage, obtaining or dealing with identity information and breaking bail conditions.

His matter has been adjourned to December 20.