Teen’s justice on the run?

Toowoomba 16-year-old does a runner from Children’s Court

A TEENAGER who was due to be released from detention later this week might have to remain in custody after he did a runner from a Toowoomba court yesterday.

The 16-year-old, who as a juvenile cannot be named, had pleaded guilty to his role in a string of burglaries in Warwick in August last year along with a co-offender, then aged 17, and a third accomplice.

In two of the burglaries, the offenders had been disturbed by the homeowner, the Children’s Court of Queensland in Toowoomba heard.

During one violent intrusion, the offenders had threatened the male homeowner until he handed over keys to his car which the trio drove off in.

The 16-year-old had acted as driver and lookout at most incidents and had crashed a stolen Mercedes Benz between the third and fourth burglary, the court heard.

The now 18-year-old, who cannot be named as he was a juvenile at the time, pleaded guilty to his involvement.

He had seven pages of criminal history and had served 186 days of pre-sentence custody.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC sentenced him to 12 months detention but ordered the term be suspended immediately with the teenager released on a Conditional Release Order which would include a number of programs to help with his rehabilitation.

The convictions were not recorded.

Barrister Frank Martin, for the 16-year-old, told the court even if his client was released forthwith, he would remain in custody until Thursday’s sittings of the Toowoomba Children’s Court where he had other matters yet to be dealt with.

Noting the 16-year-old had 11 pages of criminal history and that he had spent some 11 months of the past two years in juvenile detention, Judge Horneman-Wren declared 186 days of pre-sentence custody as time served and sentenced him to six months detention and 12 months probation with no convictions recorded.

However, upon hearing his sentence, the teenager jumped over the court dock wall and ran out of the court door but was soon caught running through nearby Queens Park.

Judge Horneman-Wren therefore vacated his sentence and the lad was remanded in custody to be dealt with at a time to be determined.

peter.hardwick@thechronicle.com.au