‘Grow up’: 20yo Jennifer-Rose Moke’s Valley pub cop assault, $18k stolen car spree

An Ipswich magistrate has told a young woman, who assaulted a police officer in Fortitude Valley and drove three stolen cars within a span of days, to “grow up”.

A young Clontarf woman has faced court for an alcohol-fuelled assault on a police officer and almost $18,000 worth of damage to stolen cars.

Jennifer-Rose Abigail Moke, 20, pleaded guilty to seven charges on August 19 including assaulting a police officer while intoxicated, public nuisance at a licenced premises, three unlawful uses of a motor vehicle, fraud, and failure to appear in accordance with an undertaking.

The court heard Moke was intoxicated at the Prince Consort Hotel in Fortitude Valley on March 5 this year.

Around 2.10am, Moke was in a physical altercation with another woman.

A police officer intervened, and Moke struck them in the arm.

She further drove three stolen cars between April 17 and 24 – two of which sustained significant damage, with a combined worth of almost $18,000.

The court heard that Moke’s co-accused – who is yet to face the court – was the driver of one of the vehicles during a collision, while Moke was in the passenger seat.

Moke further tried to use a stolen bank card from one of the cars at a Hungry Jacks drive-through, and later failed to appear in court.

The court heard Moke had short criminal history in 2021 including an obstruction of police and that she struggled with substance and alcohol abuse.

She had worked as an apprentice hairdresser in the past, but has more recently been unemployed and completing a hospitality course at TAFE.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne told Moke, “You’re 20 years old, you’re not a child anymore. It’s time that you grow up”.

“You need to get yourself back on track because the only one impacted by silly decisions is you.”

For the assault charge, Moke was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service.

She was further sentenced to 18 months probation for the remaining charges, and ordered to pay a total of $2300 in restitution.

No convictions were recorded.