Tareta Davidson in court for assault, spitting on police

A Burnett woman traumatised by the loss of her siblings in a house fire has narrowly avoided a jail sentence after spitting on a police officer and assaulting another woman.

Tereta Davidson pleaded guilty to the serious assault of a police officer.

A Cherbourg woman has pleaded guilty to the serious assault of a police officer and the common assault of another woman after she struck her with a bowl of rice.

Tareta Davidson, 28, was convicted of common assault, serious assault of a police officer, failure to appear and wilful damage when she fronted Murgon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Davidson, who appeared in custody, was also charged with robbery and receiving tainted property but the court heard she intended to contest those charges.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court police were called to a unit in Cherbourg on November 9, 2023 for a domestic disturbance.

When police arrived they heard a commotion coming from the unit and found a 52-year-old woman who told them she had been assaulted by Davidson.

Tereta Davidson pleaded guilty to the serious assault of a police officer.

Sergeant Stevens said the victim told police she was there to check on someone else at the address when confronted by Davidson.

“The defendant approached the victim and verbally abused her, calling her a s — t, grabbed a bowl of rice and has thrown it towards the victim and struck her in the chest,” Sgt Stevens said.

The court heard police arrested Davidson for an unrelated matter and took her to the police car.

“She was placed in the rear of the vehicle, in the pod. As the officer was shutting the pod door, the defendant spat towards the officer and was struck with spittle on her shoulder,” Sgt Stevens said.

The next month on December 15, 2023 Davidson arrived at an address in Cherbourg and smashed a laundry window with a crowbar, the court heard.

Police arrived at the property and were told by Davidson that she kicked a gate which accidentally broke the window.

Davidson was subsequently arrested on Christmas Day after she failed to appear at her court date.

The court heard Davidson had a long history of offences including breach of bail, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, liquor offences, public nuisance, multiple stealing offences and two common assault offences.

Sgt Stevens said a term of imprisonment would be appropriate given Davidson’s long criminal history.

The court heard Davidson suffers from mental health issues and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered trauma after her siblings were tragically killed in a house fire.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair sentenced Davidson to a five month suspended sentence for all charges and ordered her to not commit any crimes within 18 months or she will potentially face jail time.

Despite not facing jail time for the charges she pleaded guilty to, she was refused bail for her remaining charges and is remanded in custody until March 13.