13-year-old Geraldton boy handed suspended detention for 38 burglary, stealing, trespass and traffic incidents

A 13-year-old boy who received a court order for 18 burglary offences just a few months ago has been resentenced after another 20 offences this week. Appearing from Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre on Tuesday, the 13-year-old was sentenced on 38 charges, including seven counts of stealing, four counts of trespass, two counts of burglary and commit, home burglary with intent, possessing cannabis, two counts of steal motor vehicle and no authority to drive. All pleas were changed from accepting responsibility to a plea of guilty. The boy’s new list of charges breached an intensive youth supervision order he was handed in March, when he was sentenced for 13 counts of burglary and commit and five counts of burglary with intent. The court heard the boy broke into homes in Spalding, Rangeway and Ballajura, trespassed by jumping across fences and roofs of homes in Bluff Point, drove a stolen car with a convoy of two other stolen vehicles, stole a large knife from Bunnings and stole cigarettes from a caravan. Defence counsel Paul Gazia said the 13-year-old had spent 41 days in detention since March for the new offences and was bullied by officers in detention. He said there were plans to have the boy move to the Gascoyne Junction to live with his father, but while he was staying in Geraldton he could attend a boxing gym to keep him busy. The 13-year-old received a 12-month juvenile conditional release order.