Goodna mum, Wendy Joy West West, pleads guilty to neighbour attack

An Ipswich mum-of-seven’s “disgraceful behaviour” after she accused a neighbour of being a child abuser before orchestrating a brutal attack has been slammed in court.

Exterior picture of the Ipswich courthouse. Picture David Clark

An Ipswich mum-of-seven, who orchestrated a brutal attack on her neighbour after claiming he was a paedophile, has been slammed for the “disgraceful” act in court.

Goodna resident, Wendy Joy West West, was visibly nervous as she pleaded guilty in the Ipswich Districts Court today to a string of charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, stealing and entering a property with intent to inflict violence.

The court heard the 34-year-old was walking in Goodna on January 3, 2021 when she overheard her neighbour tell a family member not to associate with her family.

“They’re nasty, naughty people,” she overheard him say.

The court heard West had been heavily drinking that day, becoming enraged and screaming abuse at the man.

She called him a “paedophile and child abuser”, shouting she was “going to get my boys and run through”.

Just 20 minutes later, West returned to the property armed with a wooden broom pole alongside a group, which included her two brothers.

The group kicked the man’s front door down, chasing him through the house before beating him in his backyard.

He later discovered his iPhone was stolen during the attack.

Crown prosecutor Andreas Galloway said the attack had left her victim with serious injuries, including a fractured eye socket.

The court heard she was “extremely lucky” his injuries weren’t worse or she would be facing a lengthy jail sentence.

West was also due to be sentenced for throwing a beer glass at a Goodna bar attendant during a brawl on July 4, 2021.

Her lawyer, Scott Neaves, said West had turned to alcohol after three recent deaths in the family.

This is all terrible conduct … it’s not consistent with her character,” he said.

“What’s happened here is her life has spiralled out of control following the loss of her partner, her father and her child. It‘s a loss I can’t even comprehend.”

Mr Neaves said both West and the community would benefit most if she was given support and released into the community.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said while he denounced her “disgraceful behaviour”, her conduct in court indicated her remorse.

“Your conduct is not only about yourself, It‘s about the example you set for your children,” he said.

West was sentenced to a term of 18 months imprisonment to be released immediately on parole.