Olivia Pickering: Grafton jockey avoids criminal conviction for common assault after attack at Grafton racecourse
A professional Clarence jockey who assaulted another rider at training – pulling them from a horse, grabbing their eyes and striking them in the head – has avoided a criminal conviction. Here’s what happened.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An apprentice jockey who pulled another rider off their horse, struck them in the head and told them to “call your mum and cry” has narrowly avoided a criminal conviction.
Grafton’s Olivia Pickering, 30, was hit with a three month suspension from the sport.
Pickering fronted Grafton Local Court on Monday, pleading guilty to common assault.
The court heard the accomplished jockey trained at the Grafton racecourse most mornings.
The victim also worked in the racing industry, but had a different trainer to Pickering.
Pickering rode up behind the victim who was riding on the racecourse track with two men just after 6am on January 29.
Pickering yelled “outside” to signal she was about to ride past, the court heard.
Soon after, Pickering “came walking towards the victim” and “began yelling”.
Police state in court documents Pickering said words to the effect of: “You should know how to ride, you f--king spastic. You’ve had this coming for a long time you c--t.”
She then “grabbed the horse’s reins up near its mouth so it couldn’t move” and “with her other hand she grabbed the victim’s vest and tried to pull (her) off the horse”.
A track attendant tried to intervene and yelled out: “Don’t be silly, you’re going to get the horse hurt.”
Pickering continued on and pulled the victim off the horse.
Police state Pickering “had the victim on the ground in front of her” and “had her legs wrapped around the victim’s legs, her arms wrapped around the victim’s upper torso so that (her) inner elbow was touching the victim’s neck”.
Pickering was also “grabbing” at the victim’s eyes. She “kicked out” and “struck the head” of the victim when someone tried to pull her away.
The victim walked off while Pickering laughed and yelled: “That’s it, go and call your mum and cry.”
Defence lawyer Jesse Sinclair told the court Pickering had received numerous injuries from riding and was very conscious of the risks involved in the sport as a result.
Pickering was stood down on the day of the incident and has not worked since January 29.
Racing NSW suspended Pickering for three months following an investigation into the incident.
Magistrate Jeff Linden said Pickering kicking out and striking the head of the victim was the “most concerning” element of the offending.
He also told the court Pickering had not been convicted of a criminal offence before and was of good character.
Pickering was sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order and a conviction was not recorded.
Another appeal after savage attack on elderly ex-police officer
A Casino woman has appealed a jail-term after she encouraged a group attack on a 76-year-old ex-cop, punched the man and smashed his phone in a Lismore street. Here’s the latest.
Fatally injured mum told ambo boyfriend attacked her
An inquest into the horrendous death of a northern NSW mother due to traumatic head injuries has heard she agreed when asked if her boyfriend “did this”. Possible criminal charges have now been flagged.