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The disturbing family history of 12-year-old Wayne Russell comes to light just days after the self-proclaimed “Little Eshay” was killed in a mysterious car accident that investigators believe may be linked to a dangerous TikTok game.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Wayne’s mother, Samantha Sebbens, nearly died after leading police in an alcohol-based chase six years ago.
Russell was found critically injured at a friend’s home in Balgownie, Wollongong, around 2am on Tuesday, just half an hour after a stolen Holden Barina smashed into a nearby traffic light and its occupants fled the scene.
Emergency services were called and he was treated by paramedics before he was rushed to Wollongong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A crime scene has been set up at the house and the police are investigating whether the death of the child is related to the crash. No charges have yet been filed in connection with the incident.
Wayne Russell, 12, who described himself online as a ‘Little Eshay’, died Tuesday night from horrific injuries in Wollongong
Pictured: Emergency services at the scene of the accident after a Holden Barina crashed into a traffic light in Towradgi around 1.35am on Tuesday
Detectives are also investigating whether the incident is linked to a dangerous TikTok trend called ‘crawling while you sleep’ – in which young Australians film themselves committing serious crimes, including stealing cars and driving at high speeds.
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Ms Sebbens pleaded guilty to police pursuit and drink driving in August 2016 after being involved in a eerily similar accident, colliding head-on with another car.
In October 2015, Sebbens, now 35, was behind the wheel of a silver Ford Laser passing through East Nowra when police noticed around 8:49 p.m. that the vehicle was running without headlights.
The officers tried to stop the car for a random breath test, but despite the police turning on their lights and sirens, the vehicle drove off, traveling at a speed of 105 km/h in a 70 km zone.
The court heard Sebbens ran through several red lights, veered between lanes and crossed the road into oncoming traffic to avoid arrest, according to the South Coast Register.
The police unsuccessfully set up cars to block her way, and an officer had to jump aside when she narrowly missed the blockade.
At one point — as she led officers out of the CBD onto the highway and then back into the city center — she applied her handbrake, leaving a five-meter skid mark.
The chase only came to an end when she plowed head-on into a vehicle, leaving the 60-year-old female driver of the other car with minor injuries and herself with serious leg injuries.
Sebbens was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital and later took a breath test of 0.08.
Samantha Sebbens (pictured) pleaded guilty to drink-driving and police pursuit after a head-on collision in 2015
Sebben’s crash was eerily similar to the accident that claimed her son’s life
After pleading guilty, she was sentenced to an 18-month good behavior guarantee and a three-year driving ban.
Meanwhile, her former partner, Wayne Russell senior, is a serial criminal who has served several times in prison, with past charges including breaking and entering, entering enclosed grounds, suspected of stolen property and assault.
On July 31, 2015, Russell, then 27, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being caught the day before with a stolen motorcycle and in possession of house-breaking tools.
The incident came just 40 days after he was released on parole after serving a six-month prison sentence for theft.
The court heard a witness turned Russell in to police after seeing him and a young man push two motorcycles into the back of a Wollongong estate around 7:50 p.m., the Illawarra Mercury reports.
The witness said he heard Russell instruct the younger man to “hurry up” for the sound of the couple trying to start the bikes.
The witness said they later got out of the front of the property with only one bike and ran away from the area.
Police tracked down the duo nearby and ordered them to stop, but Russell fled before being apprehended by officers a short time later.
Wayne Russell (pictured) is a serial criminal who has previously been charged with theft
Sebbens in a selfie taken while in a car – she was involved in a crash after a police chase
Police discovered tools related to housebreaking, including keys and pliers, in Russell’s backpack.
The court heard that Russell had previously been charged with 62 offenses, pleaded guilty to two charges and received a year in prison.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Sebbens or Russell were involved in their son’s car accident or death earlier this week.
In the past seven years, Russell has appeared in court more than 120 times for various offenses.
He is currently on remand in prison after being refused bail in August when he was charged with assaulting a woman in the Illawarra region.
He has also been charged with violating an arrest warrant in force to protect the same woman.
Meanwhile, friends and family have flocked online to pay tribute to his 12-year-old son, affectionately known as “Lil Wayne.”
“Love you my brah… we’ll see you soon, I love you so much, rest in peace my soul, my love, rest in paradise,” wrote the teen’s cousin, Jamain Russell.
“We just need the right closure for whatever happens, you my little darling.”
Another cousin, Quiarnii Russell, posted: ‘My heart hurts, RIP, little cuzzy taken way too soon. Our hearts are shattered,” while Wayne’s Aunt Morgs Quirk wrote, “Rest in the dream, cousin. #forever12. RIP little Wayne.’
Online, the boy referred to himself as “Wayne Little Eshay” – referring to the urban youth subculture associated with foul language, defiance and eccentric dress.
NSW police are now investigating whether the crash in Holden Barina, which happened around 1.35 a.m. a three-minute drive from Balgownie, is related to the TikTok craze.
Police rushed to the crime scene after officers from the nearby Corrimal Police Station heard about the crash, but the vehicle was empty when they arrived.
“We would appeal to anyone who may have social media content related to the incidents that happened this morning to come forward,” said Jason Hogan, Acting Superintendent of Police for the NSW.
‘We are investigating all lines of research and the social media line is also being investigated.’
Anyone with information is requested to contact CrimeStoppers at 1800 333 000.