Teen had parole cancelled and was returned to detention after trying to kill himself, court hears

The Victorian youth parole board cancelled the parole of a youth offender and returned him to detention after he tried to kill himself, a court has heard.

His mother told the Kyneton magistrates court this week that on 28 August he sent her a text message saying goodbye, and that when she returned home she found he had self-harmed.

She said she took him to hospital and informed youth justice of the incident, as he had been due to meet them that day.

The following day, on 29 August, police arrived at his house and arrested him for a breach of parole, his mother said.

Following the self-harm incident she had two conversations with youth justice, but she was not told his parole would be cancelled, she said. She said no reason was given for the breach, with the arresting officers telling her they had no choice but to take him into custody.

The following month, the youth and other detainees at Malmsbury youth justice centre assaulted several guards. Since the attack he has been held in adult prison and is now being held in Ravenhall, where he is being housed as part of the general population, he told the court.

He pleaded guilty in court this week to assaulting three guards during the September incident.

His lawyer, Maria Cananzi, said the circumstances of how he came to be detained should be considered when he is sentenced.

Magistrate Sharon McRae indicated that it was likely he would be sentenced to more time in custody, rather than being able to serve any sentence concurrently.

His parole period for the previous offending expires in November.

She also referenced ongoing staffing challenges within the youth justice system.

McRae ordered an assessment into whether it was suitable for the offender to be returned to youth detention, but noted that the justice department could ignore any decisions she made over his custody.

Contacted for comment, Youth Justice said it could not provide detail regarding individual cases.

The offender will return to court for sentencing next month.