Fury as 14yo with 388 charges released on bail

A teenager who has been “causing terror” has been released on bail again, despite having previously had close to 400 charges dropped because of his young age, sparking outrage over the state government’s handling of Victoria’s youth crime wave.

Speaking on 3AW on Friday morning, radio host Mark Allen slammed the government after a 14-year-old, who allegedly broke into a northern suburbs garage housing luxury cars, was granted bail by a children’s court magistrate.

He has had 388 struck off due to his age.

The magistrate told the teenager he was “causing terror in the community” and the state should be “appalled” by his alleged offending, before he was released on bail yet again.

“You’re also destroying your own life because you can’t have any good future living this life,” the magistrate said, as per the Herald Sun.

Addressing the case on air with his co-host Jimmy Bartel, Allen called for the teenager to be taken off the streets.

“Make sure he doesn’t hurt any of us,” he said. “I don’t care what you do, don’t let him hurt anybody.”

The youth previously had his hundreds of charges struck out due to the doli incapax rule, which states a child under 14 should not be held criminally responsible unless it is proven that they knew their actions were morally wrong.

Weighing in on the rule Allen said: “You and I remember quite clearly what it was like to be a 14-year-old and we saw all the kids getting around who weren’t so good.”

“They know what they’re doing. We all know, they know what they’re doing.”

The former Australian golfer went on to accuse the government of not taking necessary action to protect the wider community.

“We are living in a state where the government is more concerned about the welfare of these kids than protecting the citizens of Melbourne. And I don’t get that, I don’t understand that.”

“There’s an old saying … you can sacrifice one to save thousands. This is right up that alley. I mean, this kid is a bad kid. He’s a really bad kid, and I don’t care what anyone says.”

“It’s wrong, it’s really really bad what is going on Jim. It’s making people very scared.”

Many were quick to agree with Allen on social media, blasting the wave in youth crime and broken justice system.

“100% Marco, it makes me so angry,” one person wrote.

“Never before have I felt so unsafe, I hardly go out anymore and when I do I’m fearful and I take extra steps to protect myself, and only go to places where I feel comfortable,” said another

“The justice system is failing so many people including the families and kids as well as the wider community. These kids don’t get any consequences for this behaviour and crimes. It’s disgusting,” another wrote.

In a bail application on Thursday, police alleged the boy entered the home with two others and filmed the group walking around two luxury cars.

However, the teenager’s defence lawyer said it was “impossible to prove” the 14-year-old took the footage.

GPS tracking had allegedly pinged the teenager’s phone to the address during the time of the offending, the court heard.

CCTV footage also showed the boy allegedly leaving the property wearing the same clothes he was seen to be wearing in a selfie which was found on his phone.

“There is no doubt in my mind to say he did enter the house,” the magistrate said.

He is yet to plead on the new charges.

A court heard earlier this month the same teenager was involved in an incident in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, whereby a group smashed into liquor and lotto stores.

After the group gained access to the store, the teenager, who has spent more than 100 days in youth detention, allegedly drove two stolen cars in a high-speed chase involving police helicopters.

The court heard on Thursday the teenager, was on a refugee visa, which would be cancelled if he were convicted.

He was released on bail to residential care ahead of his sentencing at a later date.

The magistrates wanted him to “try something different”.

Victoria’s youth crime wave

It comes as alarming new figures have shed light on child and youth crime in Victoria.

The concerning figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency, showed crimes committed by children aged 10 to 17 rose to their highest levels since 2010.

The data also found children are increasingly involved in more serious and violent offences, such as robberies, aggravated burglaries, and car thefts.

Children aged 10 to 13 years old were responsible for 84 aggravated burglaries across the state. Five years earlier they were only involved in 18.

35 per cent of child offenders are repeat offenders who commit two or more offences.

In a statement, Victoria Plice said targeting the state’s worst child and youth offenders was a “top priority”, with over 2,700 arrests made in the past year as part youth focused operations, Operation Alliance and Operation Trinity.

“Sustained efforts are also made to connect young offenders with appropriate support services to break their continued cycle of reoffending,” police said.

“For lower-level offenders, police are offering cautions when appropriate to limit their involvement in the youth justice system.”