Nyrradi Vickery pleads guilty at Ballina Local Court to biting woman outside primary school after previous biting incident

A mum savagely bit another woman during a fight outside a North Coast school – and it’s not the first time she’s faced court for latching on to people.

Nyrradi Vickery pleaded guilty at Ballina Local Court to biting a woman. It came after a previous biting incident. File image.

A mum savagely bit another woman and left a deep cut during a fight outside a Ballina primary school – and it’s not the first time she’s faced court for latching on to people.

South Ballina’s Nyrradi Vickery pleaded guilty at Ballina Local Court on Thursday to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breaching an AVO.

The 28-year-old faced the same court in December last year and was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm after she chomped down on a man during an argument at a Woolworths supermarket.

Ballina Public School. Picture: Tessa Fleming

Magistrate Karen Stafford ordered an apprehended violence order (AVO) and Vickery was told to take part in a mental health treatment plan under the care of a psychologist.

On this occasion Vickery went to Ballina Public School about 3pm on March 14 and became involved in a dispute with another woman.

“The discussion became heated and the victim slapped Vickery across the face,” police state in court documents.

Vickery responded by biting the woman’s left arm, leaving a deep cut which was bleeding.

The women were fighting in full view of children leaving the school grounds.

Vickery then grabbed the victim’s hair and began screaming.

“The victim suffered bruising to the head, a cut on her left arm and on her right leg,” police state.

“A member of the public stepped in and intervened, separating the pair before Vickery got in her car and left.”

The outside of Ballina Woolworths on River St - where the last biting incident occurred.

Police arrived and a witness gave a statement, while paramedics treated the victim.

A few days later, police went to a temporary housing village created after the 2022 floods and arrested Vickery.

She was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Witchard said Vickery, who was displaced in the floods, lived with mental health problems, which lowered her criminal responsibility.

“She had a difficult childhood and she regrets her actions,” she said.

The court heard Vickery had a difficult upbringing. File image.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said Vickery experienced significant childhood trauma – and it was accepted she was slapped before she bit the other woman.

Ms Stafford said: “It happened outside the school gate at finishing time – so many kids were exposed to adults fighting.”

“To see violence in real life is extremely confronting for the public,” she said.

Ms Stafford put in place an AVO, convicted Vickery and sentenced her to a two-year supervised community correction. Vickery was ordered to seek psychological treatment.