Jenna Hall and Emily Grieve sentenced for their roles in assault and theft of woman

A nurse and a youth worker have been sentenced for their roles in the assault of a woman with autism and the theft of her phone.

Six years after an incident left a woman with autism bruised, battered, and without a phone, two young women have faced sentence in an Ipswich court.

Jenna Hall, 31, from Upper Coomera and Emily Grieve, 28, from Corinda appeared in Ipswich District Court on Wednesday, February 16 for crimes they committed on February 21, 2016 at Silkstone.

Hall pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and Grieve pleaded guilty to one count of stealing.

Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre told the court Grieve was 22 years old at the time of offending and Hall was 25 years old.

“The complainant was assaulted (and) she had her phone stolen,” Mr McIntyre said.

“The incident occurred against what is a clear background of difficulties between herself and Ms Hall in relation to a tenancy.

“I understand those issues continued after this as well.”

Emily Grieve (pleft), 28, and Jenna Hall (right, behind), 31, leave Ipswich District Court on Wednesday February 16, 2022.

Mr McIntyre said Hall had accepted responsibility for the assault, which included bruising to the woman’s body and arms, while Grieve had admitted to stealing the woman’s phone.

The phone was never returned.

Mr McIntyre read a quote from the victim's impact statement to the judge.

“After that traumatic night, I feared for my life. I was forced from my place of residence,” the statement read.

“I had limited resources and I had nowhere to go so I camped in my ute for several nights.”

The court heard the woman had been dealing with the trauma of the incident since; the effects exacerbated due to her autism spectrum disorder.

She stated in her victim impact statement that she often struggled to leave her home, particularly at night time.

Emily Grieve, 28, leaves Ipswich District Court on Wednesday February 16, 2022.

Grieve’s counsel Justin Thomas said his client had, in every aspect of her life bar the one she appeared in court for, demonstrated a genuine commitment to assisting those who faced difficulties.

The court heard Hall, now a registered nurse and single mother, incurred some property damage to her door as a result of the incident which cost about $500 to fix.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren acknowledged the significant delay in the sentencing was not attributable to events of either Grieve or Hall’s doing.

He said he had taken into consideration the pair’s very early pleas of guilty, as well as their professions and lack of further offending.

Mr Horneman-Wren said the circumstances of the incident were “unusual” and there was no need for personal deterrence.

Both Grieve and Hall were ordered to pay $750 compensation to their victim by May 16.

Convictions were not recorded.