Arabic version: مراهق يقرّ بالذنب في قضية تعدٍّ جنائي خطير

According to ABC News, an 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty in South Australia’s Youth Court to serious criminal trespass after break-ins at several businesses in Adelaide’s southern suburbs in November. He remains in custody until his next court appearance in September.

The defendant had previously pleaded guilty in June to causing harm with intent towards a 64-year-old woman who had been sleeping rough near Mitcham Memorial Library on Belair Road at Hawthorn. The prosecution accepted that plea on Friday.

Police said the woman was kicked and punched to the head and body in the early hours of November 13, 2025. Paramedics treated her before taking her to hospital, where she was reported to be in a serious but stable condition. The youth was also accused of breaking into nearby businesses on the same night.

The prosecution has sought for the case to be dealt with in the District Court, arguing the defendant should be sentenced as an adult because of the offending’s “extremely serious” nature and “harrowing nine-minute-long footage”. Defence lawyers are opposing the application and want the matter to remain in the Youth Court.

The defence said reports from the centre where the youth has been remanded were very positive and addressed complex mental health issues. The court heard he had a long-standing ADHD diagnosis and undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Magistrate John Wells urged counsel to resolve the matter, describing both the victim and the child in custody as highly vulnerable.