Jennifer Petersen pleads guilty to spitting in woman’s face in Palmwoods park

A Sunshine Coast assistant nurse who went to a hinterland park with a pram full of pets has been involved in a disgusting dispute where she spat in another woman’s face.

Jennifer Gaye Petersen leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court. Picture: Andrew Hedgeman

An assistant nurse has admitted in court to her feral saliva assault in a Sunshine Coast park after she became involved in an argument with a mother who thought her children were being filmed.

Jennifer Gaye Petersen spoke to police about 11am on August 3 at Palmwoods’ Federation Park while “extremely sweaty and agitated” and told them a woman was aggressive towards her.

She said the woman allegedly pushed her dogs out of her pram and abused her for no reason.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard contrary details on Wednesday after the 62-year-old pleaded guilty to a single charge of common assault.

Police prosecutor Bec Lambert said officers spoke to the other woman after their chat with Petersen, who said she was warned about the nurse’s behaviour by another person when she arrived at the park with her children.

Sergeant Lambert said the victim witnessed Petersen “filming” her children in the exercise area and confronted her, which erupted into a verbal argument.

The court heard the victim demanded Petersen stop filming her children however the 62-year-old refused.

The victim witnessed Petersen “filming” her children in the exercise area and confronted her, which erupted into a verbal argument. Picture: Andrew Hedgman

It was here the victim allegedly pushed Petersen’s pram which contained the 62-year-old’s four dogs about 15m down the path to remove her from the dog park and away from her children.

Sergeant Lambert said this enraged Petersen who swore at the victim before she spat directly in her face.

The victim reacted by allegedly grabbing the nurse’s phone and chucking it into the grass. She then walked into the off-leash dog area to wash the saliva from her face.

Petersen walked up the path, however the victim tried to prevent the assistant nurse from leaving the area while she called police.

The court was told the victim allegedly grabbed the 62-year-old’s dog pram which caused it to tip. The dogs then fell out of the pram.

They were all collected and put back into the pram. Petersen walked off while the victim stayed put to wait for officers.

Both women said they had footage of the incident, but Sergeant Lambert said the victim was the only one to provide video taken by one of her children, which showed the nurse spit in the woman’s face.

The victim allegedly pushed Petersen’s pram which contained the 62-year-old’s four dogs about 15m down the path to remove her from the dog park and away from her childrenPicture: Andrew Hedgman

Petersen did not supply any footage to police despite several requests and attended Palmwoods Police Station on October 10 where she did not provide a statement.

Sergeant Lambert said Petersen had no criminal history, but it was the “worst kind” of common assault and “degrading” in nature.

Duty lawyer Jaimee Burns said Petersen, who also moonlighted in horse training, dog walking and cleaning, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from a previous car crash.

Ms Burns said the 62-year-old had assistance dogs with her that day to help with her mental condition and was “hyper vigilant”.

The solicitor said she was particularly “on edge” that morning due to being fearful of a nearby German shepherd in the dog park.

She told the court the victim initiated part of the confrontation by pushing the dogs away, and as a result, spat in the woman’s face.

Acting magistrate Raelene Ellis said from the facts, the argument began after Petersen was seen filming the victim’s kids in the park, however Ms Burns said she was instructed the nurse actually filmed the park and was not targeting the children.

Ms Burns said Petersen was remorseful.

Sergeant Lambert put on the record there was no medical evidence before the court to confirm Petersen’s PTSD diagnosis.

Ms Ellis said it was “degrading behaviour” but believed it was an aberration rather than a reflection of the nurse’s character.

Petersen was fined $1000 and ordered to pay $500 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.