A 17-year-old who is alleged to have stolen $196,050 in goods from Ballarat households over eight days has been remanded in custody.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 29 charges including aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and assault police.
Making a bail application in a children’s court on Friday, the court heard the teenager was on youth parole during the offending period of April 2-10.
A police informant told the court the accused was alleged to have been involved in the theft of a number of vehicles including two cars and a tradesmen trailer valued at $15,000 from a Ballarat address.
The informant said the accused was observed in one of the stolen cars a day later and on seeing police he allegedly drove at the officers who were forced to jump out of the way.
The officers attempted to apprehend the accused when he allegedly began kicking them, hitting one officer in the face.
The tradesman trailer was later found in the Canadian State Forest next to a burning car. The informant said DNA also linked the accused to three older theft-related offences dating back to 2013.
Opposing bail, she said police had concerns the accused, who had allegedly committed 200 offences over the past three years, would continue to offend if released on bail. The teenager’s lawyer told the court his client had the support of family and youth justice, which, combined with strict bail conditions, could reduce the risk of reoffending.
He said the matters were likely to be contested which could cause significant delay in hearings, meaning further time in custody would be unjustified.
He also tendered a letter of apology from his client which he stated showed remorse.
The magistrate said she was not satisfied conditions of bail could reduce the risk of reoffending and remanded him to reappear in court in June.
- In an unrelated case a 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of a motor while on youth parole was sentenced to 45 days in youth detention.
