Teen crime ringleader goes missing after Broome magistrate grants bail despite warning from family

Police have taken a 14-year-old Broome crime “ringleader” back into custody after he went missing for more than a week while on bail. The boy was sentenced to five months detention at Banksia Detention Centre on August 20, for “terrorising” the community in a string of offences including threatening to kill a woman asleep in her caravan and stealing more than $10,000 of jewellery. The boy’s rap sheet was described as “atrocious,” with more than 20 charges to his name and was allegedly the leader of a group of young juvenile offenders with more than 70 charges between them. In handing down the sentencing, Magistrate Elaine Campione said the boy’s record was so thick she “almost dropped it” and his clear pattern of offending left her no choice but to sentence him to detention. Just days later, the boy appeared in Broome Children’s Court on a bail application, which was approved by Magistrate Stephen Sharratt under the condition the boy adhere to a 7pm to 7am curfew. The decision was granted despite Magistrate Sharratt describing the boy as a “menace” and a relative of the boy telling the court he sometimes “takes off” while she is sleeping. The boy said he wanted to reside in the remote community of Djarindjin, where his friends “don’t come round,” but Magistrate Sharratt said allowing him to return to the community could “unleash him on another crime wave where he comes from”. “Every time I let him out he does more burglaries,” he said. The boy was released from Banksia Hill Detention Centre in late August, but disappeared upon his release, with a warrant issued for his arrest one week later. The Broome Advertiser understands the boy may be facing further charges alleged to have occurred while missing. Police attended the boy’s house on September 7, 8 and 10, but the teenager was nowhere to be found. After avoiding detection for a week, the boy was arrested on September 13 and returned to Broome Children’s Court yesterday. A WA Police spokesperson said the boy was refused bail in court and had since been transported to a juvenile remand centre in Perth. The boy is due to reappear in Broome Children’s Court to face other charges on October 1 2021.