Sentencing the teenager to 15 days imprisonment at a children’s court on Friday, the magistrate told him he was at a point in life where there was “no sympathy left”.

“You’re nearly an adult, if you come back before the magistrates court you can expect these type of light sentences won’t be an option,” he told the teenager.

The court heard the teen, who pleaded guilty to trespassing, drive while disqualified and going equipped to steal, had parked out the front of an Old Melbourne Road address and asked the homeowner for a wheel brace to tighten his wheels.

After tightening his wheels he left and was later seen by the same man in his garage.

When asked what he was doing, the teen told the man he was looking for the wheel brace.

The man observed the teen wearing one glove and noticed a nail gun had been moved under a car in the garage. When police attended the address they found a number of items in the teen’s car, including a jimmy bar, hammer and torches.

Describing the teen as a “complicated and difficult case”, his lawyer told the court the teen’s moral culpability was reduced due to a traumatic upbringing.

He said the teen had no family support and suffered from an intellectual disability. But despite the difficulties, he told the court his client was now trying to take steps in the right direction.

He added the teen had been placed on a supervision order earlier in the week over unrelated charges and would use this as his last opportunity to get on top of his issues. Describing the teen’s criminal history as “atrocious”, the magistrate said he did not accept an intellectual disability contributed to this particular offending. 

“You know exactly what you’ve done is wrong,” he said.

“I hope you use the next six months of supervision to turn around.” 

The teen was released on Friday after spending 15 days in pre-sentence detention.