Tarleaha Jenusch jailed for stabbing man with screwdriver at Umina Beach

A 24-year-old woman who claimed she acted in self-defence after stabbing a man with a screwdriver has been jailed, with the court hearing she was high on drugs and showed little remorse.

Tarleaha Jenusch, 24, was sentenced in Gosford Local Court after being found guilty of reckless wounding causing actual bodily harm. Picture: Facebook

A young woman who was high on drugs when she stabbed a man at Umina Beach with a screwdriver, causing a partially punctured lung, has been jailed for two years.

Tarleaha Jenusch, 24, was sentenced in Gosford Local Court after being found guilty of reckless wounding causing actual bodily harm after initially pleading not guilty.

About 3.30pm on September 16, 2023, police responded to a radio broadcast in relation to a stabbing on Ocean Beach Rd, Umina.

When an officer arrived, he was informed by a resident that his flatmate, a 59-year-old man, had been stabbed.

The victim had two small wounds to his upper back and shoulder blade, with blood and fluid trickling down his back. He told police that Jenusch was responsible for stabbing him with a screwdriver.

Jenusch was jailed for two years for stabbing a man at Umina with a screwdriver.

A detective later attended a nearby home after receiving a call from a man reporting that Jenusch was at his house and distressed.

She was found hiding behind a garden shed and was arrested before being taken to Gosford Police Station.

Jenusch was taken to Gosford Police Station following the stabbing.

The court heard the victim spent three days in hospital and required a catheter.

Ms Ellis said she was satisfied the evidence heard earlier in the year demonstrated the victim suffered actual bodily harm.

“She also appeared to not be accepting any responsibility for her actions, even including her own version of self-defence by stabbing the victim,” Ms Ellis said.

The court also heard Jenusch had multiple prior domestic violence matters and had previously been subject to community correction orders.

Ocean Beach Rd, Umina, where the stabbing occurred. Picture: Google Maps

“Her criminal history has a history of violence which appears to escalate,” Ms Ellis said.

A sentencing assessment report noted that Jenusch had no fixed address for two years leading up to the incident.

She told the court her most recent offending was due to illicit substance use. However, the report also revealed she took limited responsibility for her actions and partly blamed the victim, claiming she acted in self-defence.

Ms Ellis said it was “a conundrum to a degree” that Jenusch failed to plead guilty, which could have resulted in a reduced sentence.

Ms Ellis said this lack of insight was concerning, and it appeared Jenusch had been so affected by drugs that she did not understand what she was doing at the time.

Jenusch was sentenced to two years’ jail and will be eligible for parole on October 27 due to time already served.

Originally published as Tarleaha Jenusch jailed for stabbing man with screwdriver at Umina Beach