15-year-old behind bars after wild chase and threats

15-year-old behind bars after wild chase and threats

A 15-year-old teenager from Vienna felt the consequences of his criminal behavior on Wednesday when he was sentenced in the regional court for a dangerous chase. On August 17, 2024, he raced through the city in a stolen car and went on a wild chase with the police, who wanted to stop him because of his risky driving. At speeds of up to 140 km/h, the teenager, who had received a suspended sentence a few months ago, showed careless and reckless behavior.

The incident occurred days after the canceled Taylor Swift concerts at Happel Stadium due to security concerns. During his arrest, a threatening situation arose in which the teenager threatened the police with a terrorist attack. These highly emotional statements were made in a moment of anger. “I said that out of aggression,” explained the defendant, who now realizes that his actions were deliberate and exaggerated.

Details about the incident

The boy, who had only dropped out of school once and had no regular employment, had repeatedly searched unlocked cars at night since April 2024 to find their keys. His thirst for adventure led him to get into the stolen vehicle and take a few of his friends with him. “I just wanted to have fun,” said the 15-year-old, who knew, given his age alone, that he didn’t have a driver’s license.

When the police officers finally tried to stop him, he responded with increased speed and continued the pursuit. The situation escalated to the point where he even rammed police vehicles, which ultimately put an end to his high-speed escape. “He overtook me very narrowly,” he said, justifying his constant speeding away, but in doing so he revealed his lack of reflection to the court. Here, too, the judge had his say and pointed out to him that he had to fear serious consequences.

Despite the frightening events, the teenager shows insight and plans to change his life. He expressed his desire to obtain a school qualification and to revise his behavior. The jury ultimately imposed a sentence that included four months, meaning he had to go to prison, while the rest of the sentence was suspended.

The court's decision sends a clear message: people who endanger public safety through reckless and criminal behavior must be held accountable. The case has reopened the discussion about juvenile crime and the necessary measures to prevent it volksblatt.at has reported. The lad will now have to spend more than five months behind bars before he has the chance to get his life back on track.