Ipswich teen Jorja Iris Avenell sentenced for DV head-stomp assault on mum

An Ipswich teen drew her own mum’s blood in an ‘appalling’ head-stomp assault, but a court heard she is now dedicated to changing her violent ways.

Jorja Iris Avenell, 20, leaving Ipswich Court on October 12, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A young aspiring social worker has faced a court west of Brisbane for a vicious attack on her own mother.

Flinders View resident Jorja Iris Avenell, 20, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on October 12, 2023, to assault occasioning bodily harm (DV).

The court heard Avenell’s offending occurred at Chuwar residence on April 30.

She had been 19 at the time, when an argument with her mother escalated into a physical altercation.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Bridie O’Shea said Avenell’s actions were “absolutely appalling”.

“The victim was lying on the ground and the defendant raised her right leg, stomping on the victim’s head,” Senior Constable O’Shea said.

She said the extent of the mother’s injury was not described apart from “blood being visible”.

Defence lawyer Emily Fackender said Avenell and others had been drinking at the time.

Her client had struggled with several mental health conditions and had been drinking in excess “at least once a week” at the time, she explained.

Ms Fackender said Avenell was remorseful and had since repaired her relationship with her mother.

Jorja Iris Avenell, 20, leaving Ipswich Court on October 12, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Avenell’s family, including her mother, had attended court to support her.

Ms Fackender said Avenell had since cut back on her drinking, started seeing a psychiatrist, and left her previous job at a supermarket chain to focus on her mental health.

Avenell was now looking at studying social work or potentially a career as a nail technician, she said.

Magistrate Melanie Ho said she could see, based on the mental health report that there had been “some issues for some time”.

“You don’t get to be 19, going through this, without something happening earlier in your life,” she said.

“There’s a lot more going on and it’s not all your fault.

“This is your chance to step up and take what you’ve learned, and if you want to become a social worker take all of that on.”

She sentenced Avenell to 18 months’ probation, with no convictions recorded.