Mount Gambier woman Veronica Jane Hay accused of assaulting and spitting at nurse, applies for bail change

A woman with an “extensive criminal history” has been given a chance to prove she won’t end up back in custody after an alleged emergency department assault.

A woman with an “extensive criminal history” on remand for allegedly spitting at and assaulting a nurse in a regional hospital will have her bail conditions eased to “test the water”, a court has heard.

The decision was made despite the numerous fail to comply with bail charges she is facing, the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court was told on Monday.

Since her 2020 arrest, police allege Veronica Jane Hay, 53, failed to comply with her strict bail conditions multiple times.

Veronica Jane Hay fronted the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court charged with assaulting a hospital worker. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Ms Hay has been charged with one count of assault hospital worker — she was also charged with theft, but the matter has since been dropped.

The police prosecutor said they were was surprised by Ms Hay’s lawyer Tess Dunsford’s request, as the current conditions “do not prevent Ms Hay from going about her day to day business”.

“Other than the curfew condition — the only restriction is that she’s monitored,” the police prosecutor said.

Ms Hay’s matter has been before the courts since police were called to Mount Gambier Hospital emergency department where she allegedly verbally abused the nurse and spat in her face at about 9.30am on July 19, 2020.

Ms Dunsford said her client’s less than “glowing corrections report” was on account of Ms Hay being a vulnerable Indigenous woman who had a number of health conditions.

“She has mental health issues, she has a personality disorder, she has substance issues (and) she has significant medical issues relating to women’s health,” Ms Dunsford said.

“She has an extensive criminal history. Ms Hay has been in and out of custody in relation to the matters before the court.

“When she’s under stress — she’s less compliant (but) there have been periods of compliance.”

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos was initially hesitant to ease Ms Hay’s bail due to her “bad behaviour”.

“We don’t reward bad behaviour, we reward good behaviour,” Magistrate Kossiavelos said.

“Bad behaviour and her erratic behaviour is no grounds to lift the conditions.”

Magistrate Kossiavelos said she hoped to finalise the matter at Ms Hay’s next appearance and decided to lift her home detention condition to “test the waters” to see if Ms Hay would comply with the conditions.

Ms Hay will reappear in the Mount Gambier Magistrates court later this month.