Melanie Jane Byers in Maroochydore court for unlawful wounding after stabbing attack

A Sunshine Coast chef can no longer work due to a fear of knives inflicted by a terrifying incident where a homeless woman lunged at him with a knife, stabbing him.

Melanie Jane Byers. Picture: Facebook

A 43-year-old woman made sinister and threatening remarks to a fisherman before taunting him and lunging at him with a knife as he tried to get away.

Melanie Jane Byers, 44, pleaded guilty on January 24 in Maroochydore District Court to seven charges including unlawful wounding.

Crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said the 43-year-old victim was residing at a unit near Emporio Place at Maroochydore and had gone to Cornmeal Creek for a fish and to smoke a cigarette on November 19 about 9.15pm after a drink.

He encountered a homeless group - which Byers was a part of at the time - under a bridge where a man told the victim to “f--k off” and made threatening remarks.

The court heard Byers had also hurled abuse at the victim, calling him a “f---ing dreg” and told him to come closer in a “sinister” tone as he was backing away from the other man.

The victim then tripped on a makeshift barrier near Byers’ mattress and she picked up a 3-4 inch blade to charge at him.

Judge Gary Long said the victim stood up and the blade hit him on the elbow as he frantically backed away.

“You were taunting him with the knife,” Judge Long said.

She continued to lunge at the victim as he ran past her with a bleeding wound and was eventually taken to hospital, the court heard.

Mr Andronicus said he suffered a 2cm deep laceration which required four stitches.

Melanie Jane Byers. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Byers had contacted police herself admitting she had stabbed the man but claimed it was self-defence, falsely stating the man had punched her and poured hot wax on her.

Mr Andronicus said the victim suffered significantly from the incident, living in paranoia and fear of Byers and could no longer continue his work as a chef after developing a fear of knives.

Byers was on bail at the time for possessing drug utensils and syringes.

Byers had also stolen a total of $717.42 worth of liquor from Dan Murphys on two occasions in August and October and committed fraud by advertising one of the bottles worth $225 on Facebook Marketplace for $130.

Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown submitted a psychologist report to the court, saying mental health issues had underpinned the incident and Byers had been struggling with substance abuse since she was a teenager.

He told the court Byers had a different perception of what had occurred which was not accepted.

Byers pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful wounding, two of stealing, one of possessing pipes used for drugs, one of possessing a grinder, one of failing to dispose of syringes and one of attempted fraud by dishonest application of another person’s property.

Judge Long sentenced her to two and a half years imprisonment to be immediately released on parole with 431 days spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.

Convictions were recorded.