Clarissa Sue Morris sentenced for domestic violence assault

A former Australia Zoo wildlife warrior will remain behind bars after she pulled a woman by her hair and punched her in the face during a violent assault.

A former Australia Zoo wildlife warrior said her stint behind bars was a wake-up call after she pulled a woman by her hair and punched her in the face during a violent assault.

Clarissa Sue Morris was sentenced to 12 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to five domestic violence offences including common assault on December 27, 2021.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan told the court Morris had already pushed the woman in the chest when she unleashed a blow.

“The aggrieved has bent over to pick something up … when (Morris) grabbed the aggrieved by the hair and punched her with a closed fist to the face,” he said.

Senior Constable Allan said the 40-year-old also threw a vase full of shells down a hallway.

Constable Allan said Morris was on parole at the time of the offending and had criminal history with similar offences.

He said Morris was sentenced to a six-month prison sentence on January 27, 2022 for threatening to burn a home down on October 2, 2021.

He asked for a 12 to 15-month prison sentence with actual time to be imposed.

“A sentence must show the community will not tolerate this behaviour,” he said.

Solicitor Chantelle Allen agreed a prison sentence was appropriate but asked for an immediate parole eligibility date.

Ms Allen said Morris had a difficult childhood and was exposed to drug use before developing an addiction at age 15.

She said the former Australia Zoo employee of seven years had no permanent address, limited support on the Sunshine Coast and had plans of moving to Brisbane after her release.

Ms Allen said the single mother of two – who struggled with her mental health – was using drugs at the time of her offence and had engaged with a rehabilitation support service.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist described Morris’ offending as “very disappointing”.

Mr Stjernqvist said the sentence he imposed had to deter Morris, who had previously been given the benefit of parole, from reoffending.

He noted Morris’ unfortunate childhood but said many people suffer similar experiences and abide by the law.

Morris told the court her time in prison was a “wake-up call”.

“I need to weed out the bad in my life and start fresh for my little girls,” she said.

Mr Stjernqvist set a parole eligibility date of April 13, 2022.

Morris’ 73 days of pre-sentence custody was declared as time already served.