Geraldton teenager, 15, placed on intensive supervision order for string of assaults on 13-year-old girl

A Geraldton teenager has been placed on an intensive supervision order for bashing her 13-year-old victim three times on the same day. The 15-year-old offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday to be sentenced on three assault charges which she had previously pleaded guilty to, including an assault occasioning bodily harm and two counts of common assault The court was told the assaults occurred on March 16. Police prosecutor Sgt Paul Burkinshaw said the offender had been outside McDonald’s on Durlacher Street about 8am before school, accompanied by six other females and one male co-accused. The victim had exited McDonald’s and was approached by the offender, when the victim crossed the street to try to flee she was chased by the offender. When the 15-year-old caught up to the victim she grabbed her hair, pulled her to the ground and proceeded to kick and punch her in the head. The offender then walked back to her group as the victim ran away. Sgt Burkinshaw said the next two assaults occurred on school grounds, the first was when the victim was accompanied by her grandmother. A co-accused ran up to the victim and pulled her to the ground, which is when the offender joined in to kick and punch her multiple times. When the victim managed to escape, she fled to the school’s student services office but the offender came in shortly after and began punching her in the head. Police arrested the 15-year-old a short time later and when asked for an explanation the teenager said “she shouldn’t of pointed at us”. The girl’s lawyer Melissa Wishart said the offender had been bullied by the victim’s cousin and she had expressed immense regret for her actions. She also stated her client had no record. Magistrate Angus Hockton said this was a serious issue even for someone without a record. “I think you are the ringleader here, you are one of the leaders and the main instigator of this assault,” he told the offender. “It would have been really distressing for the victim, it continued when you came back to school.” Mr Hockton further chastised the teenager for the consequences her actions would have on the victim. “In front of her grandmother, on her grandmother’s birthday and you ruined it,” he said. “It happened in front of her peers and it would of undermined her confidence . . . the persistence of it is where an ISO is required.” The teenager was placed on a nine-month intensive supervision order.