A 15-year-old Cairns hoon with five prior driving convictions who crashed a stolen Commodore into a ute injuring three occupants has walked free from court.
Just minutes before the smash, he had been attempting burn-outs and donuts on suburban Cairns streets.
The young lout ran from the scene of the collision – leaving one woman with a broken leg and arm and permanently deformed shoulder – and had to be chased down by police sniffer dogs, Queensland Children’s Court in Cairns heard yesterday.
He was released from court on nine-months’ probation and no conviction was recorded for the five charges, including breaking into a car, stealing a car and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge Sarah Bradley noted the youth had already spent 260 days in a Brisbane detention centre.
The boy’s mother wept as she told the judge that her family was no longer able to trust the teenager at home.
He had also been caught attempting to steal from homes and businesses in September last year, the court was told.
Crown prosecutor Judy Collins said on September 18 the teenager entered a home on Hoare St, Manunda, and noticed the window of a Holden Commodore was open.
He got in the car and found keys in the glove box.
The court heard he drove the car erratically around Westcourt, revving the engine and attempting to do burn-outs and donuts.
