Madison Kate Dunkley jailed for spitting in the mouth of a Gold Coast nurse
A mum was forced to say goodbye to her newborn baby after being sentenced to jail for a “deliberate, disgusting and demeaning” act.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A MUM was forced to say goodbye to her newborn baby after being sentenced to jail for deliberately spitting in the mouth of a Gold Coast nurse.
Madison Kate Dunkley, 24, on Monday pleaded guilty in Southport District Court to a charge of serious assault.
She was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ jail, eligible for parole on September 14.
Judge William Everson told Dunkley at sentencing that spitting in the face of a nurse who was doing her job was a “deliberate, disgusting and demeaning thing to do”.
FIGHTER ACCUSED OF SPITTING BLOOD ON A PARAMEDIC
The court was told the incident happened on January 31, 2020 at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Judge Everson said Dunkley was taken to hospital by ambulance after telling staff at an employment agency that she was having suicidal thoughts.
He said Dunkley became aggressive when she was refused the opportunity to have a cigarette by hospital staff before being transferred by ambulance to Robina Hospital.
“This escalated significantly and you then grabbed a pen from the ground and threatened to stab one of the officers in the shoulder,” Judge Everson said.
“Protective services officers arrived and the complainant, who was a 46-year-old clinical nurse, took your mobile phone for safe keeping and you became even more aggressive, demanding it back as you were being restrained.
“As you approached the door to the mental health unit, you then turned your body to the right and spat in the complainant’s face. The spit landed in her mouth and both her eyes.
“You made admissions to police concerning the offending, and this is a significant mitigating feature, you claim that you freaked out and ‘hocked a big dirty golly and spat on her face’.”
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS
Defence barrister Debra Wardle, of Legal Aid Queensland, said her client suffered a mental breakdown after her relationship ended with her ex-partner at 18 and started using the drug ice.
Ms Wardle said her next partner was “very violent” and the reason she moved from the Gold Coast and stopped treatment for her mental health.
“She was actually at Sarina Russo on the day and talking about employment when she shared how she was feeling,” Ms Wardle said.
“The Sarina Russo people became so concerned about her mental health that they rang an ambulance to take her to hospital.”
The court was told Dunkley’s seven-week-old daughter would be cared for by her father because an application to have the baby in custody was not yet filed.
Originally published as Madison Kate Dunkley jailed for spitting in the mouth of a Gold Coast nurse
New watchdog fears hit Gold Coast councillors
Some Gold Coast councillors are in fear of having to pay legal fees from conduct battles. Here’s what they’ve decided to do about it.
Watch: Tobacconist blows up in suspected arson attack
A northern NSW tobacconist has erupted in flames in a suspected arson attack amid a spate of similar fires locally and statewide. See the moment the building explodes.