In short:
A youth was under the influence of a "cocktail of drugs" when he assaulted a woman outside an Adelaide library, a court has heard.
He previously pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent and serious criminal trespass.
What's next?
His sentence will be handed down next month.
A woman sleeping rough in Adelaide's inner south fell victim to a "sustained, malicious and intentional" attack at the hands of a teenager who was under the influence of a "cocktail of drugs", a court has heard.
The now-18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent over the attack on the woman in the vicinity of the Mitcham Memorial Library, on Belair Road at Hawthorn, on November 13, 2025.
The 64-year-old suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital.
The youth, who was 17 at the time of the offending, also previously pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass in relation to a series of break-ins after the attack.
During a pre-sentence hearing today, defence barrister Patrick Dawes said a toxicology report identified a "cocktail of substances" in the teenager's system following his arrest.
"It's [his] memory and [his] position that he didn't voluntarily consume methylamphetamine, MDMA and benzodiazepines and other semi-synthetic opioids on the night of the 12th into the 13th," he told the court.
Mr Dawes told the court the then-17-year-old was in a state of "dysregulation" at the time of the offending after he was "seemingly assaulted" by peers in the hours before.
He added that, since the offending, his client has been diagnosed with autism and severe ADHD and that a cognitive assessment found his "overall intellectual function" is in the "low-average range".
Mr Dawes said that a psychological report prepared before the hearing deduced that there was a "nexus" between the teenager's mental health conditions and the substances he was influenced by.
The court also heard that the teenager has been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder but that he is "now in remission".
"He was admitted to the Women's and Children's Hospital within two or three days of his arrest due to severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms and spent six nights in hospital," he said.
Mr Dawes said his client was in a state of "overwhelm" at the time of the offending and had "loss of control… which he takes responsibility" for.
He said a letter of apology by the teenager to his victim demonstrates his client's remorse.
"He's really sorry for hurting her and wishes he could take back what he did," he said.
Mr Dawes read an excerpt from the apology letter in which he said "it really hurt" to see the video recording of the offending.
"I can't remember why this all took place but when I rewatch the footage it really hurt me seeing myself act and treat a person in such a terrible way and you can understand how sorry I am," it read.
The court also heard that the psychological report concluded that the 18-year-old is at "moderate risk of reoffending of offences of violence".
A prosecutor asked the court to sentence the youth, who has been in detention since November last year, to a "further period of detention".
Mr Dawes conceded that a further period of detention would be appropriate.
Magistrate John Wells said he would sentence on the basis the attack was "intentional" and co-existed with the teenager's "meltdown".
"I will sentence on the basis … that it was a sustained, malicious and intentional act,"he said.
Magistrate Wells added that the victim can be seen putting up her umbrella to protect herself.
"She cowers behind the umbrella," he said.
The 18-year-old will be sentenced next month.
