AFL grand final day rampage teen avoids jail time

The 15-year-old boy who attempted to mow down terrified pedestrians in a car while dressed in combat gear on AFL Grand Final day has avoided a jail sentence.

The boy – who cannot be identified due to his age – pleaded guilty to endangering the lives of pedestrians outside Flinders Street Station, in Melbourne’s city centre, on September 30. 

A children’s court judge on Wednesday sentenced the teen to a 12-month youth supervision order.

The judge added that she believed the boy, who was diagnosed with autism after his arrest, posed a low risk to the community and has good prospects of rehabilitation.  

 

The 15-year-old boy who attempted to mow down terrified pedestrians in a car while dressed in combat gear on AFL Grand Final day (pictured) has avoided a jail sentence

The boy pleaded guilty to endangering the lives of pedestrians outside Flinders Street Station, in Melbourne 's city centre, on September 30

The boy pleaded guilty to endangering the lives of pedestrians outside Flinders Street Station, in Melbourne ‘s city centre, on September 30

The teen narrowly avoided striking pedestrians, cyclists and trams as he drove erratically during 30 minutes of terror on AFL Grand Final day. 

He nearly pinned two pedestrians to an information centre building before they jumped out of the way, Nine News reported. 

Vision captured on a nearby traffic camera shows the youngster then climbed out of a stolen green Toyota Rav4 clad in full combat gear.

He was armed with a knife and a bicycle pump as police started to close in on him. 

The court heard the child had ignored police orders to drop the weapons, but when a police officer released pepper spray at him, he charged.

An officer fell backwards onto tram tracks and two more officers advanced, pinning the boy to the ground after he was tasered. 

A map of Melbourne’s city centre was later found in his bedroom, although it was not suggested he was trying to commit a terror-related act.

The boy faced six charges, which included reckless conduct endangering life and assaulting police.

A children's court judge on Wednesday sentenced the teen to a 12-month youth supervision order (pictured is the AFL Grand Final day rampage) 

A children’s court judge on Wednesday sentenced the teen to a 12-month youth supervision order (pictured is the AFL Grand Final day rampage) 

Vision captured on a nearby traffic camera (pictured) shows the youngster climbed out of a stolen green Toyota Rav4 clad in full combat gear. He was armed with a knife and a bicycle pump as police started to close in on him

Vision captured on a nearby traffic camera (pictured) shows the youngster climbed out of a stolen green Toyota Rav4 clad in full combat gear. He was armed with a knife and a bicycle pump as police started to close in on him

Experts who assessed the teen after the arrest found he has the language skills of a child aged between three and five.

‘Your complex needs are now being met for the first time,’ the judge said on Wednesday.

‘I assess that your prospects of rehabilitation are very good and the risk you pose to community is low.’

She also commended the police for the way they responded to the incident. 

The judge added: ‘Your offending was not to be viewed as an act of terror.

 The boy faced six charges for the rampage (pictured), which included reckless conduct endangering life and assaulting police

 The boy faced six charges for the rampage (pictured), which included reckless conduct endangering life and assaulting police

‘However, this was not readily apparent to the members of the public and the police, whose role is to protect the public from harm.’

A tram driver whose path crossed with the teen’s car said she was still afraid to go into the city.

‘I thought these things only happened in the movies, not in my city,’ she said in a victim impact statement.

The judge said it was fortunate no one was seriously injured.

‘The consequences of your driving could have been catastrophic,’ she said.

As part of his supervision order, the teen cannot drive a car or use the internet without supervision. 



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