Jessie Kathryn Micenko-Dawson jailed for bashing an elderly woman on a bus

A drugged-up homeless woman’s unprovoked attack on a West Lakes’ bus had a grandmother fearing for her life with the injuries leaving her unable to brush her teeth.

A 29-year-old homeless woman has been jailed for the unprovoked bashing of an elderly lady on a bus at West Lakes.

Jessie Kathryn Micenko-Dawson appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday charged with a string of offences including aggravated assault, being unlawfully on premises, damaging a building or motor vehicle, six counts of dishonestly taking property without consent, hindering and resisting police and unlawful possession.

The aggravated assault charge related to a violent attack on a bus travelling on Frederick Road, West Lakes, on January 15.

CCTV vision of the horrific attack was played in court on Monday.

In the footage, Micenko-Dawson can be seen sitting opposite the 72-year-old grandmother on the bus and screaming at her to get off the bus before striking the victim.

In a victim impact statement read out to court by Magistrate Luke Davis, the elderly woman told how the attack came out of nowhere.

“I went to West Lakes for a bit of shopping. It was a nice day and I decided to catch a bus home rather than a taxi,” the statement read.

“I was just me and the bus driver at this stage (when she got on the bus). Then a woman (Micenko-Dawson) got on the bus and sat across from me.

“She then got up holding a ceramic object and then started hitting me with it, screaming at me and lashing out.

“I asked her to stop, I pleaded with her to stop, I don’t know how many times she hit me.

“She was continuously hitting me and I was calling out for help.

A woman has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court for aggravated assault. Picture: Kaysee Miller

“I either fell or was pushed to the floor of the bus. I was on the ground, calling out to the bus driver – help, help me please.”

The victim said she was afraid for her life in the attack.

“The woman was continuously hitting me as I was laying on the floor. I was in shock, scared and groaning and moaning because I was in excruciating pain,” she said.

The victim said the attack has left her with lasting injuries, including not being able to lift her arms high enough to brush her teeth, with constant flashbacks and with social anxiety.

In sentencing Micenko-Dawson, Magistrate Davis said the evidence against Micenko-Dawson was overwhelming.

“I take into account your plea of guilty, your age and that you’ve had a very difficult life,” he said.

“I take into account you were obviously mentally unwell and under the influence of drugs.

“However sometimes personal circumstances are overwhelmed by the aspects of the case. Your offending was sudden and unprovoked.

“The victim impact statement spoke of a loving, caring grandmother, mother and wife who was doing nothing more than simply being on a bus.”

Micenko-Dawson received a two year, six month sentence, with a non-parole period of one year, eight months.