A 21-year-old man, Leo Boland from Balgowlah Heights in Sydney, received a non-custodial sentence after intentionally running over two kangaroos in a reckless act that was filmed by his passenger. This incident occurred in July 2024 on a dirt road in Running Stream, located approximately 200km north-west of Sydney, following a day of drinking with friends.
In Manly Local Court, Magistrate Daniel Reiss deemed the details of Boland’s actions “disturbing.” The court found that Boland swerved at high speed to hit the kangaroos, showing intent as they tried to escape. He subsequently stopped the vehicle near the deceased animals. Boland’s lawyer portrayed the event as a “moment of complete foolishness,” suggesting that his embarrassment should spare him from conviction. However, the magistrate dismissed this argument, noting the significant backlash Boland and his mother faced on social media.
Magistrate Reiss also pointed out that Boland’s decision to act recklessly while knowing his passenger was filming indicated his willingness to seek notoriety from the act. The prior consumption of alcohol, which contributed to his impaired judgment, was also considered when assessing the gravity of his offences. Reiss remarked, “Young men, alcohol, stupidity – not a good mix.”
Boland pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly injuring an animal while a more severe charge of animal torture was dropped. He also admitted to lying to the police about the circumstances of the incident, despite evidence from the passenger’s phone capturing the event. This dishonesty further factored into his conviction.
In his ruling, Magistrate Reiss expressed bewilderment at Boland’s initial not guilty plea concerning the lying charge, especially as he was aware he was recorded during the kangaroo fatalities. Ultimately, Boland was sentenced to 200 hours of community service, required to maintain good behaviour for 18 months, and was fined $1,500.