Sentenced: Pregnant Ipswich teen cuts child’s throat in shocking home invasion

Details have emerged on the brutal Ipswich home invasion where a pregnant teenager seriously injured her 32-year-old lover’s child. WARNING: Distressing content

A young woman pleaded guilty to a grossly violent home invasion which left a young vulnerable girl’s throat cut and ear severed.

Legally the Queensland Times cannot name the woman responsible for the attack as she was 17 at the time of the crime and to protect the identity of the child.

The court heard the teenager was dating the child’s then 32-year-old father.

The shocking assault happened at a grandmother’s Ipswich home on November 9 2020 at 5.30pm.

When the couple grew aggressive and threatening, the scared grandmother locked her doors and took refuge from her son and his lover in a room.

The man’s legal counsel alleged the girl, who was pregnant at the time, was propelled to carry out the attack because the man yelled at the teen from across the street, “just slit their throat or I’m coming to punch you in the face”.

The teenager who had taken a large quantity of alcohol and methamphetamine smashed her way through a window, before breaking into the grandmother’s refuge.

The Crown said the young woman carried out a wanton and relentless attack, “slashing (the seven-year-old) with a piece of glass from her ear to her throat causing serious and longstanding injuries,”.

The grandmother was beaten and fell unconscious after getting her head stomped on.

The crown said the woman was a risk to herself and the community and had shown little remorse for her actions or the gravity of the “profound and debilitating” consequences on the family.

Teen pleads guilty to a grossly violent home invasion which left a young vulnerable girl’s throat cut and ear severed. Picture: istock image

Reading a victim statement in court the grandmother said her grandchild and herself were left with lifelong trauma and fear of retaliation after they were forced to uproot their lives.

“We are scared both physically and emotionally. (She) required emergency surgery to repair the severed ear and surgeries to her throat, in all she needed 400 stitches,” she said through tears.

The grandmother said after spending a week in hospital the pair had to stay at hotels and safe houses because she was inundated with threats.

“We are in hiding, and always will be.”

She went on to say the pair live in constant fear and the attack has stopped the intellectually vulnerable child from playing sport and being social.

“She had to change school… and she can no longer sleep alone, she’s too scared,” she said.

“Our lives will never be the same. (She) will relive the trauma every day and it’s sad as it ruins any progress (the autistic child) has achieved in life.

“The defendant knew full well (she) had complex needs but this did not stop her attacking such a small child, let alone me.

“I hope one day you realise what you have done to innocent people that have helped you and took you in.”

The court heard the teen had a chequered upbringing, abused substances, and may suffer from an undiagnosed personality disorder.

At the Ipswich District Court on Thursday, December 9, the woman pleaded guilty to burglary with violence and property damage, assault causing bodily harm, and committing a malicious act with intent.

Judge Lynch sentenced the woman to six years of detention and said she would be illegible for parole in three years - which the Crown had recommended.

No conviction was recorded for the violent burglary with property damage charge and the assault causing bodily harm charge.

A conviction was recorded for the charge of committing a malicious act with intent.

The young girl’s father will be trialled for his alleged involvement in February 2022.