Ballina woman’s partner left bleeding after ‘serious’ DV assault

The court heard the 21-year-old woman escalated an early morning argument into a “threatening” attack on her partner.

Coral Lee O'Connor fronted Lismore Local Court on Monday, August 9.

An “aggressive” attack against her partner has landed one young Ballina woman before court in what her solicitor labelled an uncharacteristic assault.

Coral Lee O’Connor, 21, appeared before Lismore Local Court on Monday, August 9.

She pleaded guilty to a sole charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard from Magistrate Michael Dakin the incident stemmed following an argument over O’Connor’s partner returning home in the early hours of the morning.

As O’Connor’s aggression increased, the man intended to follow advice sought from his relatives and leave, but returned inside to first gather some belongings.

Inside their home, O’Connor struck the man, grabbed his head and kneed him twice in the face.

The court heard the man apparently started bleeding from his nose following the attack.

O’Connor’s solicitor Natasha Wood told the court while the pair were no longer in a relationship or lived together, they remained friends and the victim was in the courthouse on Monday for support.

She said her client was remorseful and wanted to “move forward” from what she said was an out of character attack.

Ms Wood also asked the magistrate to consider the youth of the part-time employee at Byron Bay Cookie Company when sentencing.

Magistrate Dakin told O’Connor the attack was “aggressive and quite threatening” in nature.

“This is quite a serious example of this offence,” he said.

His noted his sentencing was made in respect of general deterrents needed to those found committing DV offences.

Given that, he sentenced her to a Conditional Release Order for two years, expiring on August 8, 2023.

He also ordered a two year AVO be placed for the protection of O’Connor’s former partner.