A vicious attack on a pregnant woman at her workplace resulted in a 26-year-old woman being sent to jail on Wednesday.
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Magistrate David Day sentenced Aimee Lea Sheehan, of Moresby Street, to seven months jail with three months to be served without parole for the assault.
She could be eligible for release on supervised parole on Christmas Day.
Sheehan was represented in Orange Local Court by Peter Ringbauer who said her reaction stemmed from problems she faced while growing up.
“The situation is Miss Sheehan has realised the foolishness of her actions, it was a chance meeting,” he said.
The victim said she was pregnant, Miss Sheehan said, 'I don’t give a f***, your face isn’t pregnant’ and punched her in the face.
- Magistrate David Day
However, Mr Day said the assault was not a fight or flight response.
“The victim was at her work, Miss Sheehan has sought her out and invited her to have a fight,” Mr Day said.
“The victim said she was pregnant, Miss Sheehan said, ‘I don’t give a f***, your face isn’t pregnant’ and punched her in the face.”
According to police facts, Sheehan and a man were walking past the victim’s work at 9.30am on May 1, when Sheehan confronted the victim, and another male witness stood between the two women.
He tried to calm Sheehan down but she punched the victim, striking her nose and causing bleeding, pain and swelling.
The male witness told Sheehan to leave but she continued to goad the victim and after the victim asked the man who was with Sheehan to take her away, Sheehan punched her in her right eye causing pain, swelling, and the victim to fall on the ground.
Sheehan attempted to swing further punches but was pulled away and the witness said he would call the police so Sheehan left with the other man.
“The violence on those facts is completely gratuitous and unprovoked,” Mr Day said.
Following the attack, the victim went to Orange hospital for an assessment of her injuries and to check her pregnancy and later made a statement to police.
Mr Ringbauer said Sheehan pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, accepted she had an anger management problem and there was no dispute with the facts.
“My client has made some significant improvements since her conduct on this occasion,” he said.
Sheehan will be subject to supervision, rehabilitation and anger management while on parole.
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