Jade Elizabeth Hoon in court for break-in assault occasioning bodily harm

A woman who broke into another woman’s unit in the dead of night and then used a metal weapon to hurt the woman, has tried to justify her actions with good intentions. Details here:

A 42-year-old Gympie woman, who broke into another woman’s unit in the dead of night and proceeded to hit her with a metal tube and threaten to stab her with scissors, has claimed she was trying to perform a welfare check.

Jade Elizabeth Hoon pleaded guilty to three charges in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday, including breaking in to assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence), and breaching a probation order.

The court heard the victim, who was asleep, woke at 3.30am on June 29, 2021, to the sound of banging on the front door and then smashing.

Hoon, who had broken into the woman’s unit, then appeared in the bedroom and began yelling at the woman.

The victim, still in her bed, started crying while Hoon yelled for the woman to get out of the bed.

When she refused, Hoon grabbed a metal tube and hit the bed several times before she struck the woman on the upper thigh.

The tube left a red welt, the court heard.

Gympie Magistrates Court heard Jade Hoon (pictured), 42, broke into a woman’s house and assaulted her, but claimed the break-in was a “welfare check” thinking the woman had overdosed.

Hoon then demanded the woman move to the couch, where she was then cornered as Hoon grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby coffee table.

Police prosecutor Michael Phillips said Hoon threatened to stab the woman, saying she had to move out of the unit so Hoon could move in.

“She has then elbowed the victim in the head area,” Sgt Phillips said.

Outside, a man was heard walking in the hallway, which was mistaken for the police arriving.

Hoon sent the victim outside to tell them she was not there.

However, the victim saw this as an opportunity, and ran to a neighbour who called the police.

Police arrived at 4.40am, and Hoon tried to flee the scene but was caught and arrested in front of the unit.

When questioned, the court heard Hoon justified her actions with claims she was doing a welfare check and believed the woman had overdosed on drugs.

“The victim failed to answer the door, the defendant had knocked for about one minute and then smashed the door to gain entry to check on her welfare,” Sgt Phillips said.

Jade Hoon was remanded in custody of Gympie Magistrates Court after she pleaded guilty to three charges, including breaking in to cause assault occasioning bodily harm and breaching probation.

However, Hoon had not called police before conducting this welfare check, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said the woman, who knew Hoon, was a drug user and Hoon claimed her actions were done with good intentions.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan did not agree.

“You’re saying she broke in to do a welfare check? I don’t accept that,” he said.

He said Hoon’s actions after she broke in did not align with someone who had good intentions.

“It’s a very serious matter,” he said.

The case was stood down twice for Mr Anderson to discuss going forward with his client, but Hoon stuck to her story.

As a result, the matter was adjourned to “sort out factual basis for sentence”, according to Mr Callaghan.

Hoon was remanded in custody, and will return to Gympie Magistrates Court for a hearing on May 23, 2022.