Melissa Stanley sentenced for boozy assault of woman in Currimundi

A Queensland grandmother was drunk when she viciously attacked her neighbour after their respective partners were involved in an alleged tussle.

Melissa Nellie Ann Stanley leaving Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

Currimundi residents have witnessed a bizarre alleged fight between two feuding couples, which was sparked over a disagreement about pet dogs.

The Maroochydore District Court heard on Monday how disagreements over pet dogs were the catalyst for a brutal attack on an unsuspecting neighbour at the hands of Melissa Nellie Ann Stanley.

Crown prosecutor Rhys Byrne said their tensions came to a head on March 12, 2021 when Stanley started to yell at the victim’s husband over their fence.

Mr Byrne said an intoxicated Stanley then turned her abuse to the victim as she walked from her car.

Out of the blue, Stanley’s partner and the victim’s husband allegedly started to wrestle.

Stanley after her sentence on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

The crown prosecutor said as this was happening, Stanley slogged the woman in the face.

Mr Byrne said the victim was unsteady on her feet when the 47-year-old grandmother pulled her victim by the hair to the ground.

The court was told Stanley then kicked her in the chest.

Neighbours swarmed to watch the wild fracas however the parties dispersed. The police were called.

Mr Byrne said thankfully the victim only suffered from bruising and an abrasion.

The court was told the 47-year-old was further investigated by police and interviewed in November 2022, more than a year after the street biff, before she was given a notice to appear in January 2023.

She pleaded guilty to one charge. Picture: Patrick Woods

Mr Byrne said she was originally charged with two counts of assault in company however one charge was dropped and another downgraded in court on Monday, and instead she pleaded guilty to a single count of assault.

Defence barrister James Feely was instructed Stanley felt “embarrassed and ashamed” for her conduct and conceded she should not have gone outside that day.

Mr Feely said the grandmother came from a prejudicial background and lived a “transient existence” for part of her life.

She went on to become a mother and grandmother and worked until a workplace injury.

Her barrister said there had been an ongoing dispute in the neighbourhood about the victim’s dogs, concerning “noise and aggressive behaviour”.

Mr Feely said Stanley was drinking alcohol to “such a degree” that things “boiled over” on that fateful day.

Judge Glen Cash jailed Stanley for nine months, to be suspended immediately for nine months.