Eaton teenager admits involvement in serious home burglary where occupant was sexually assaulted

A 16-year-old Eaton boy has admitted his involvement in a serious home burglary that involved the occupant allegedly being unlawfully detained and sexually assaulted.

The teenager, who cannot be named, appeared in Bunbury Children’s Court via video link from Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre on Friday where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences including aggravated home burglary and commit, attempted aggravated armed robbery, deprivation of liberty, and committing aggravated sexual penetration without consent in the course of an aggravated home burglary.

It was understood the burglary took place at a South Bunbury home on April 11 this year and the boy was in the company of another teenager, alleged to have been a co-offender.

The 16-year-old also admitted stealing a tomahawk from Anaconda Bunbury on the same day, as well as damaging a holding cell at the Bunbury Police Station on April 15.

The boy also previously admitted to breaching supervision orders he had been placed on after being released from Banksia Hill earlier this year.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Connolly made an application for the matters to be dealt with by the Children’s Court President, citing the “extremely serious” nature of the offending.

The boy’s defence counsel Roisin Keating did not oppose the prosecution’s application, stating it was the “appropriate course of action”.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing to September 30 to obtain an updated psychiatric report.

The alleged co-offender is due to appear in Bunbury Children’s Court on August 19.