$20,000 HEROIN HAUL ON BOY, 13

A brilliant 13-year-old mathematics student trafficked in almost
$20,000 of heroin to raise money to play amusement games.

The boy's appearance in the Children's Court was his third since last
May on charges of trafficking and possessing heroin.

He was put on good behavior bonds for the previous offences, prompting
a magistrate to comment yesterday that while the boy had not responded
to those sentences - including one last week - he had ``effectively
been placed back on the streets with ... no supervision''.

Police said the boy, a year 8 student who also excelled at computers
and chess but did not use heroin, was arrested at 11.15pm on Monday on
a Werribee street with a co-offender, aged 17.

Sergeant Tim Allen, prosecuting, said the boy threw two silver foils
on to the nature strip. They were found to contain a white rock
substance that he admitted was heroin.

Sergeant Allen said the rocks weighed seven grams and if sold in
separate ``hits'' would have realised close to $20,000.

The boy pleaded guilty to trafficking and possessing heroin, stating a
false name and address and possessing the proceeds of crime, a mobile
telephone.

Mr Robert Thyssen, defending, told the court the boy was ranked in the
top 5per cent for mathematics in a schools competition and had great
potential. He became ``very much involved in the arcade games'' and
wanted to put money into them, but his family could not afford it.

He had been drawn into the crimes and it had ``spiralled out of
control'', Mr Thyssen said.

After two days in custody, he had a ``taste of where this can go'',
had seen the effect on his family and was keen to ``turn things
around''. His mother, who was in court with his older sister, was not
sure where he was on Monday night, he said.

The magistrate bailed the boy on conditions that included an 8pm to
7am curfew and that he attend a minimum of two weekly meetings with a
juvenile justice worker. Sentencing has been adjourned.