‘Problem child’ gets a chance
A teenager who ticks all the “problem child” boxes, has been given a chance for rehabilitation at two separate Christchurch court sentencings.
The youth has just turned 17, so some of his offending was dealt with in the Christchurch District Court and some in the Youth Court.
He was born with foetal alcohol syndrome. Judge John Strettell said that partly explained but did not excuse his offending.
The youth had developed a drug dependency, but defence counsel Donald Dickson said the young offender accepted his problem and wanted treatment.
He then spent some time in custody awaiting sentence, because he would not comply with his bail conditions.
The youth was appearing for sentence on 16 charges: eight petrol drive-off thefts, five suspended driving charges arising from the same incidents, two burglaries, and a charge of possessing tools for burglary.
At both sentencings, penalties were imposed that will allow him to attend a residential drugs rehabilitation course.
At the sentencing in the adult court, he was put on intensive supervision for nine months, with a special condition that he attend the rehab programme, and home detention for five months at the rehab centre.
Judge Strettell also ordered him to pay $853 reparation after his release, for the losses from his offending, and disqualified him from driving for a year.
Category: Observations
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