Kelly Irihapiti Mea Biddle: Elderly woman, 87, punched in face in horrifying attack

A woman has been jailed after unleashing a vicious physical assault on an elderly woman, before continuing the attack and targeting her victim again while she sought treatment at the hospital.

A mother of two has been jailed after she punched an 87-year-old woman in the face in a horrific unprovoked attack and then later verbally abused the woman as she waited at the hospital for treatment.

Kelly Irihapiti Mea Biddle was on probation for assault at the time she unleashed the shocking attack on her elderly neighbour.

The 87-year-old victim pulled into her driveway on January 24 and saw Biddle, who she recognised as another resident of her unit complex, approaching the car.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said Biddle, 30, walked up to the victim’s car, leant through the window and punched the elderly woman in the eye before walking away.

“(The victim) said she’d felt pain in her right eye straight away and called her son who took her to the Dalby Hospital,” Sergeant Brady said.

Hospital staff noted the elderly victim was “visibly shaken” and had cuts and extensive bruising around her eye.

The victim initially told police she didn’t want to report the incident out of fear of further attacks.

Hospital staff reported that Biddle later arrived at the facility while her 87-year-old victim was waiting in reception, saying Biddle refused to speak to the workers before calling the elderly woman a “c--t” before walking out.

Lawyer Julia Molloy said her client faced trauma in her childhood, which has caused substance abuse issues throughout her adult life.

Ms Molloy said her client gave no reason behind the random attack, but claimed she was remorseful and ashamed.

Biddle pleaded guilty to serious assault on a person over 60.

She was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with her parole date set for January 7, 2023.