A Balgowlah Heights man has today pleaded guilty to deliberately running down two kangaroos in a ute last year.
Leo Boland, 21, attended Manly Local Court today, 21 August 2025, with his family following charges of torturing and beating animals. Prior to the hearing, however, negotiations were held between the accused’s lawyer and police prosecution leading to him pleading guilty to two of the charges and one (involving torture) being withdrawn.
Mr Boland pleaded guilty to recklessly beat and seriously injures animal and not disclosing the identity of driver or passenger. The third charge of intending severe pain – torture and seriously injure animal was withdrawn.
The incident took place in an area of dirt roads at Running Stream, 19 July 2024, about three hours inland between Mudgee and Bathurst. Court documents reveal the two kangaroos were deliberately run down at high speeds, with the man swerving into the animals as they attempted to escape.
The vehicle used was a 2015 White Colorado ute, registered in his mother’s name. His mother is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mr Boland was charged at Manly Police station on 4 October 2024 after claiming to not know the identity of the passenger or driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident.
However, the passenger of the vehicle later confirmed to police Mr Boland was driving at the time of the offence. The passenger’s phone was seized and videos depicting the offences were obtained.
The court was told the prosecutor would not be playing the video of the crime taking place.
The court also heard the young offender was a month off finishing his carpentry apprenticeship, had no prior criminal records and previously endured the divorce of his parents, in the consideration of sentencing.
The magistrate requested a sentence assessment report and adjourned sentencing for 2 October, 2025.
