Jade Teresa Stelling pleads guilty to armed robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm

A woman with a history of drug problems threatened to bash a man’s family while a group of people attacked him in his home. Here is what they were there for:

An Ipswich woman with an extensive criminal history has returned before the court after entering a man’s home, stealing his money, drugs, and coin collection, and encouraging assault.

Jade Teresa Stelling, 32, appeared in Ipswich District Court on Thursday, facing a count each of entering a dwelling with intent while armed and in company, assault occasioning bodily harm, and robbery while armed and in company.

The Wulkuraka woman appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates court via video link earlier this year for her 11th driving offence and has numerous previous convictions for violence.

The Wulkuraka woman pleaded guilty to all three new charges against her, stemming from an incident at Regency Downs on December 2, 2019.

On that date, the court heard Stelling and three co-offenders arrived at the address of a man she knew, asking him to supply her with drugs.

When he said he had none and could not help her, Stelling’s associates, one of whom was armed with a 40cm sword, attacked him.

The group punched the man in the face, struck him in the side of the body, kicked him in the ribs, and demanded he unlock his safe and give them what they wanted.

Stelling began yelling and threatened to “bash” the man’s family if he did not comply.

The man opened the safe while continually being struck to the face, the group pocketing his jewellery, knives, coin collection, wallet, drugs, and alcohol.

He was transported to hospital where he remained for four days and received treatment for injuries including fractures to his ribs, air leakage in his chest cavity, and lacerations to his face and scalp.

Defence lawyer Mr Hynes argued Stelling’s offending was linked to her drug addiction and past trauma and told the court that she herself did not inflict violence, though she did make threats.

Judge Lynch QC said he considered her early pleas of guilty, as well as the fact she was not the principal offender but a “willing and enthusiastic participant” in assault nonetheless.

He said he recognised she wanted to change her life and her attitude, and become a drug-free, decent member of society.

“Yours is a sad tale, I have to say … and not one that fills me with a great deal of enthusiasm about your prospects in the future because of your inability to deal with your drug problem in the past,” Mr Lynch told Stelling.

He said if she wanted to pull herself out of the situation she had found herself in, it would be up to her.

Stelling, who already served six months in custody, was sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment and will have her sentence suspended from April 20, 2022.

Convictions were recorded for all offences.