16-year-old sentence to 18 months after 35-day crime spree

A magistrate has condemned the actions of the teen who left an elderly woman fighting for her life in hospital after stealing a $90,000 luxury vehicle and leading police on a high speed chase before crashing it into the women’s car.

"It's fair to say your offending during this June to July period has shocked the community," the magistrate said.

"Your behaviour has had serious impacts on the community, from a simple act of stealing a workman's tools ... to the devastating consequences on a 92-year-old victim."

Taking into consideration the boy's age, remorse shown during court proceedings, his alleged drug-use during the offending and his prospects of rehabilitation, the magistrate sentenced the teen to 18 months in a youth justice detention centre.

"The offending is so serious … no sentence other than in a youth justice centre was appropriate."

The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to more than 50 charges including theft and multiple driving offences.

The court heard the teenager was involved in 10 car thefts across Ballarat over a period of 35 days while on a two gram-a-day ice habit.

In another incident, the court heard the accused and a co-accused, on June 24, watched a 92-year-old woman get out of her car to take her dog for a walk before following her into a Redan park.

The court heard the accused allegedly grabbed the woman in a “bear hug” before taking off with her keys. 

On July 8, the boy was involved in a high speed chase with police and shortly after the pursuit was terminated, collided with another car trapping a 71-year-old man, woman and 12-year-old child. 

The teenager’s defence lawyer said the first thing his client wanted to do was apologise to the victims, the police and his mother who he “feels he has let down”.

During sentencing in a children's court on Monday, the magistrate said she wondered whether young people understood the seriousness of this type of offending.

"Your driving not only placed those people on the road in danger of death, but also the police officers," she said.

The boy, who The Courier will not name due to legal reasons, was also fined $100 driving under the influence of drugs. He has already served 119 days in custody.