Fourteen-year-old girl threatened to shoot Transperth guard, spat on police officer

A teenager from Perth’s south who threatened to shoot a Transperth guard and spat in a police officer’s face has been warned by a magistrate that her behaviour has to stop. The 14-year-old, who cannot be named because she is underage, appeared in Rockingham Children’s Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to four counts of assaulting a public officer, one count of stealing, one count of damaging property and one count of being armed or pretending to be armed. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Gert Steenkamp told the court the teen had approached the guard at Perth train station on January 21 and revealed what appeared to be a small black and white gun tucked in her skirt. Despite the fact it was actually a toy Nerf gun, she told the guard that she was “going to shoot (him)“, before fleeing the area. Police later located and arrested her, but two months later on March 21, they found her again during a welfare check on young people at Yagan Square. It was about 5.50am. They took two children into care, including the teenager, however she became aggressive and kicked one of the officers in the leg. It was while she was then restrained and being led to the police pod that she spat in one of the officer’s faces. The spit landed on the officer’s cheek, the inside of her mouth and her glasses. Months earlier, the teenager had also assaulted a doctor and a nurse while attempting to escape from a hospital. The nurse had tried to stop the teen and was kicked to the leg and arm, and when a doctor also intervened and tried to restrain her, he too was kicked in the leg. The teen and several other patients attempted to force open electronic doors, kicking and pushing while nurses on the other side pushed back to keep the door closed. When questioned by police over that incident, she said “I want to go home”. Legal Aid lawyer Claire Rossi said the teen had run away from home and was “sleeping rough” in Perth’s CBD at the time of the incidents. “She had been in the city with some friends and found the Nerf gun, later showing it to the Transperth officer,” she said. She had experienced mental health issues since 2021 and it was then that her troubles with the law began, Ms Rossi told the court. Magistrate Catherine Crawford told the teen she “can’t continue to behave in that way” and that her behaviour and offending has to “stop”. “It’s very unfortunate that the police officers and Transperth guards suffered injury while they have been trying to do their job,” she said. “You need to learn ways to deal with unexpected situations or situations that make you feel bad. “Keep out of trouble, any new offences will breach the order I have placed you on today and you will need to come back to court to be re-sentenced.” The girl was ordered to complete a five-month intensive supervision order with attendance requirements. The Nerf gun was also ordered to be destroyed. Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 Lifeline 13 11 14