Teenager sentenced to 30 hours of community service for graffiti spree at Katanning’s Welcome Precinct

A 16-year-old boy has been ordered to undertake community service after carrying out a late-night graffiti spree across Katanning last month because he was bored. Appearing in Katanning’s Children’s Court on May 10, the teenager pleaded guilty to one count of stealing and two counts of defacing public property. Police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Yuswack told the court that between midnight and 1.45am on April 27, the defendant and two accomplices were at the New Lodge Motel on Clive Street when one of them stole a box of road marking paint from the back of a ute owned by a roadworks company. The boy then carried it to the All Ages Playground, where he and his accomplices spray painted graffiti across the All Ages Playground, Katanning Skate Park and Katanning Miniature Railway, along with nearby infrastructure and signs. The trio moved to Katanning Police Station at 2.30am, where they proceeded to apply spray paint to the front of the station. On April 29, the boy was arrested and charged with the three offences. Sgt. Yuswack said he told police he had committed the crimes because “he was bored”. His defence lawyer accepted the offences were of a serious nature and said her client wanted to find other ways to “cure” his boredom. She told the court the boy was “very sorry” and wanted to apologise to the community for his actions. In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said his actions were “not good enough” “It is not funny, it is not smart,” she said. “You are damaging property you and others in the community share.” She urged the defendant to learn his lesson and not “repeat this nonsense”. “If you are bored, what I am about to do will give you something to do,” Ms Scaddan said. He was sentenced to a four-month youth community-based order and will be required to complete 30 hours of community service.