Charity maven charged with assaulting police after crash, refused bail

An eastern suburbs charity fundraiser and mother-of-two has spent the weekend in custody and will face court on Sunday after she allegedly assaulted a police officer, and refused to submit to a roadside breath test.

An eastern suburbs charity fundraiser and mother-of-two has spent the weekend in custody and will face court on Sunday after she allegedly assaulted a police officer, and refused to submit to a roadside breath test.

Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 54, was arrested on Friday night after an incident in the city’s east where she allegedly crashed into another vehicle and refused to exchange details.

Police were called and located Jacobs Fennell nearby, before wild scenes erupted and an officer was allegedly attacked.

She was arrested and charged with assaulting police in the execution of duty, refusing or failing to submit to a breath analysis and not give particulars to owner of damaged property.

Socials. Barnardo's Luncheon 2022. Vanessa Fennell. Supplied

Jacobs Fennell was refused bail and spent the weekend in police custody.

She is due to face Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said Jacobs Fennell allegedly assaulted a police officer after crashing her SUV into a stationary Tesla last Friday.

“About 7pm on Friday, emergency services were called to Riddell Street, Bellevue Hill, following reports of a two-vehicle crash,” she said.

“Officers attached Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were told a SUV has crashed into a parked Tesla.

“The driver of the SUV - a 54-year-old woman - was subject to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result and was arrested for the purposes of a breath analysis.

“Following the arrest, the woman allegedly assaulted a police officer.

Vanessa Jacobs Fennell at her home in Tamarama, Sydney. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Gaye Gerard

“She was taken to Waverley Police Station where she was charged with refuse to submit to breath analysis, assault Police in execution of duty and not give particulars to owner of damaged property.

“The woman was refused bail to appear before Paramatta Local Court on Sunday”.

Pictured is Vanessa Fennell. Picture: Supplied

Jacobs Fennell is a well-known charity maven who has served on the board of the prestigious Sydney Children’s Hospital Gold Committee.

She was married to private equities banker Tom Fennell before their marriage ended about five years ago.

In 2021, Jacobs Fennell made headlines when she complained to NSW Fair Trading about a “pushy” real estate agent who she claimed was harassing her into selling her beachside mansion.

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Originally published as Charity maven charged with assaulting police after crash, refused bail