Ormiston’s Samantha Reed, 36, avoids suspended prison sentence for ‘grievous’ injury caused

A court has heard a woman lost her business after sustaining life-altering injury at the hands of a highly thought of council worker acting ‘stupidly’ on false information.

A highly thought of bayside council worker has walked free from court after she was fined $15,000 for life-changing injuries caused to a woman in an unprovoked drunken attack.

Ormiston woman Samantha Reed, 36, was supported by multiple family members when she appeared at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The Redland City Council staff member pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a matter that Magistrate Deborah Vasta said should have come with a charge of grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Reed was at Fiction Bar at Raby Bay Harbour on November 3, 2020 at around 6.15pm celebrating Melbourne Cup, when she followed a woman out of the venue.

According to police, Reed yelled, “You’re a f***** c***”, before pushing the woman in the back while she was on her mobile phone.

Reed’s victim landed awkwardly and fractured her ankle.

The prosecution said Reed's victim suffered injury so severe it warranted a jail term. Picture: Facebook.

Her injuries were such that she required immediate and follow-up private surgery to insert and remove metal supports.

A victim impact statement read out to the court by Ms Vasta detailed a subsequent infection to the injury with life-changing impact: Reed’s victim lost her business which required long hours on her feet. Her husband suffered while he had to care for their children while she was incapacitated for weeks. Following an infection the victim developed a limp and no longer felt comfortable in public without shoes given her significant scarring. The family ultimately moved from the region due to the trauma, the court heard.

Reed was interviewed by police in March, 2021 and claimed she had acted in self defence when she thought her victim would attack her.

The claim was dismissed when a witness confirmed the unsuspecting victim was attacked from behind, the court was told.

A police prosecutor said the offending was so serious, the court had no option other than a suspended prison sentence, despite Reed’s good standing in the community and her complete lack of criminal history.

Defence solicitor William Hodgen said his client had made a “stupid mistake” when she acted on disinformation.

The court heard Reed had been told her victim had glassed her friend.

Samantha Reed leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

Police confirmed no such glassing occurred.

Mr Hodgen said Reed accepted her conduct as “wrong” and was of otherwise exceptional character.

The court heard the defendant worked in a talent acquisition capacity at Redland City Council after holding a similar position at Brisbane City Council.

Multiple references were tendered noting her impressive standing in the community.

Ms Vasta noted offending resulting in such serious injury to a victim would usually appear before a higher court.

“It should have been grievous bodily harm,” Ms Vasta said.

In sentencing, it was accepted that Reed could reasonably foresee the risk to her victim, but had not intended to cause injury so severe.

Reed was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service.

She was further ordered to pay her victim $15,000 in restitution.

No conviction was recorded.

“I don’t think there is a great deal of benefit in sentencing someone who has never been in trouble before to a term of imprisonment for a split-second decision,” Ms Vasta said.