Kalbar mum Felisia Chapman sentenced for wild attack on partner’s side chick
An Ipswich mum-of-three has fronted court for the first time in more than a decade after an unwelcome revelation about her partner sparked a frenzied, jealous rampage.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An Ipswich mum attacked her partner’s “other woman’’ in a alcohol-fuelled frenzy before headbutting a police officer who tried to slow her down.
Felisia Imogen Chapman, 33, of Kalbar, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on August 31 to assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance, trespass, serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm and two counts of failing to provide a specimen as required (blood and breath).
The court heard Chapman became angry when she learned her partner was having an affair.
She attended the other woman’s Kalbar home on April 18 while drunk and put her in a headlock.
She bit the victim’s thumb for 15 seconds, breaking through skin on both sides.
When police arrived she refused to provide a breath specimen.
They handcuffed her but she resisted, drawing her head back to forcefully headbutt a senior constable.
Defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell said his client had since resolved her relationship with her partner, who had attended court to support her.
He said Chapman was a mother to three children and had been diagnosed with depression shortly before the offending.
Mr O’Donnell said her actions were “completely out of character” and noted that it was her first time before the court since 2008.
“She’s very remorseful and shaken up and she’d like to apologise to the court,” Mr O’Donnell said.
Magistrate Jason Schubert said Chapman’s offending was extremely serious.
“Police should not have to be subject to those types of behaviours when they’re going about their job,” he said.
However, he acknowledged Chapman had taken steps toward rehabilitation.
She had stopped drinking alcohol and started attending counselling.
Mr Schubert said he was satisfied “by the skin of (Chapman’s) teeth,” that she would not need to serve any time in custody.
He warned her he had gone so far as to write up an order for her imprisonment before being swayed by her rehabilitation efforts.
“That’s how close you were,” he said.
Chapman was sentenced to 18 months’ probation. Convictions were recorded for the fail to provide offences only.
She was also disqualified from driving for eight months.
‘Friend to many’: Man killed, cattle put down after B-double horror
Tributes for a 56-year-old man killed in a collision with a B-double cattle truck car on the Warrego Highway.
Teacher suspended after child exploitation material allegations
An Ipswich high school teacher facing child exploitation materials charges has been suspended, but he remained on bail despite allegedly breaching its conditions.