Youth who assaulted woman sleeping rough admits to breaking into businesses

A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass after he broke into several businesses in Adelaide's southern suburbs in November. He previously pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent towards a woman who was sleeping rough. What's next? The 18-year-old man will remain in custody until his next court appearance in September. A teenage boy who assaulted a woman sleeping rough has pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass in South Australia's Youth Court. The now-18-year-old pleaded guilty in June to causing harm with intent against the woman, which was today accepted by the prosecution. The prosecution had applied for the matter to be dealt with in the District Court, with the defendant to be sentenced as an adult given the "extremely serious" nature and "harrowing nine-minute-long footage" ofthe offending. That application is to be fought by his defence lawyers, who are seeking to have the matter remain in the Youth Court. The lawyer for the defendant said documentation from the centre where he has been remanded in custody reflected "very positive reports from youth justice" and addressed his "complex mental health issues". The court heard the youth had a long-standing ADHD diagnosis and undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder. At the time of theattack, police said the 64-year-old victim had been sleeping in the vicinity of Mitcham Memorial Library on Belair Road at Hawthorn. Police said she had been kicked and punched to the head and body in the early hours of November 13, 2025. Paramedics treated the woman before taking her to hospital where she was reported to be in a serious but stable condition. The teenager was also accused of breaking into nearby businesses on the same night and subsequently charged with serious criminal trespass. Magistrate John Wells today urged counsel to consider that the matter involved "highly vulnerable" parties and that it would be "unfortunate" and time-consuming for the case to be referred to the District Court, only to be sent back to the Youth Court. "I want to say to everyone, I urge you all to do your best to try and resolve it," he said. "We have a highly vulnerable victim — her interests are important. "We have a highly vulnerable child in custody, and his interests are also important. "Please don't let anyone ignore those paramount considerations." Magistrate Wells told the defendant that he was "very keen to finalise" the matter. "I'm sure you are, I'm sure your parents are and those who support you are, but we are moving in the right direction," he said. The 18-year-old remained in custody and would appear in court next month. [Image text:] COURT YOUTH CONFERENCING UNIT