Teen carjacker spared jail despite Victoria's new 'adult time' laws

In a Melbourne court, a 16-year-old girl who held up a taxi driver at knife point and stole the vehicle has been spared jail time. The incident occurred on February 27, 2026, just hours after new laws imposing harsher penalties on youth crime came into effect. Despite the harsher laws, a judge decided there were exceptional circumstances in the case, and the girl will be subject to an 18-month youth supervision order instead of the minimum three-year jail sentence.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wore a balaclava during the crime, held a knife to the taxi driver's throat, and drove the taxi at high speeds before crashing near a freeway entrance. The driver continues to suffer from trauma and fear every time a passenger enters his vehicle. The new laws, passed in response to rising youth crime, force children charged with serious offenses like aggravated carjacking to face adult courts.

While some victims' advocates support the laws, legal groups and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission criticize them. The judge acknowledged the severity of the carjacking and the victim's vulnerability but also noted the girl's exceptional circumstances, including being a first-time offender, remorseful, and having no significant history of trouble since her arrest.

The judge emphasized the importance of rehabilitation in the community, considering the girl's lack of stability and safety, as well as her PTSD and unmanaged ADHD.