Young mum Elif Ozbebek sentenced over assault at Fortitude Valley nightclub Woolly Mammoth
A young mum who punched a security guard in the face after she was asked to leave a nightclub has aspirations of becoming a child safety officer, a court has heard.
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A young mum with dreams of working in child safety has faced penalty for punching in the face a security guard who told her to leave a nightclub due to her perceived level of intoxication.
Elif Rabia Ozbebek, 24, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, November 11 on a string of charges including assaulting a security guard at nightclub Woolly Mammoth and obstructing a police officer in Fortitude Valley.
The single mum sat at the bar table with her two-month-old daughter as the police prosecution explained the circumstances of her offending on September 30, 2018.
Prosecutor Sergeant Josh Kelly said Ozbebek punched a female security guard in the face at Woolly Mammoth, with a hand that was holding a small purse after she was told to leave the premises due to her level of intoxication.
It is understood Ozbebek was not in fact intoxicated at the time.
The court heard the victim security guard suffered bruising, swelling, redness, pain, and discomfort, and required a CT scan, following the incident.
Ozbebek subsequently failed to surrender into custody and appear in court on numerous occasions.
When randomly intercepted by police in June, 2019, she was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis.
Sgt Kelly said the young woman again demonstrated an inclination toward violent behaviour six months ago when she was four months’ pregnant and obstructed police officers while they attempted to arrest her then-boyfriend, about 5.30am also in Fortitude Valley.
Defence lawyer Axel Beard explained his client was only in Brisbane’s party precinct at that time to collect her then-partner who had enjoyed a night out.
He said she took some “umbrage” with the way in which he was being dealt with by police, but now understands the rights of officers to execute arrests.
Mr Beard told the court Ozbebek – who is one of seven children – left home at the age of 17, ‘couch-surfing’ and ‘sleeping rough’ for some time before completing post-school studies and finding her own private rental at Rosewood in Ipswich.
Mr Beard asked Magistrate Jacqueline Payne to consider Ozbebek’s young age, particularly at the time she offended, and her “modest but still significant” goals which, primarily, included her raising her child and one day becoming a child safety officer.
The court heard the young woman had a limited but relevant criminal history with one previous offence of assault in 2017.
Ms Payne said Ozbebek’s actions toward the security guard were “disproportionate” but not unprovoked, given it appeared she had been wrongly accused of being intoxicated.
She took into account the woman’s personal circumstances, employment and rehabilitation prospects, and limited criminal history when deciding an appropriate penalty.
Ozbebek pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, possessing dangerous drugs, obstructing a police officer, and four counts of failing to appear in accordance with an undertaking.
She was given a six-month $400 good behaviour bond. No conviction was recorded.
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