Repentance Creek’s Catherine Marcia Richards pleads guilty to Byron Shire intimidation, baseball bat threats

A Northern Rivers social worker rocked up to a Byron Shire home with a baseball bat, accusing another woman of interfering with her family, a court has heard.

A Repentance Creek social worker showed up at a home with a baseball bat and threatened to bash a woman for allegedly interfering with her family.

Catherine Marcia Richards from the Lismore area pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court to intimidation and going armed with intention to commit an indictable offence.

The court was told the 49-year-old and her partner had separated after an 18-year relationship and he moved into the victim’s Eureka house, in the Byron Shire.

Richards sent her ex text messages “berating him” and the woman about 7.20am on May 15, court documents revealed.

“You’re f--king deluded. (the victim) is a cunning very sad c--t who deserves to be throttled,” a message read.

“You are both so f--ked and will get yours … (the victim) is getting a bat to the head.”

Richards then messaged the victim, threatening her directly.

Richards warned the victim to “expect a visit” - and soon arrived at her home armed with a baseball bat.

Richards told her to “go and f--king die” and said “you’ve done nothing but interfere with my family for f--king years you sad old f--k get a life” (sic).

“Expect a visit,” she added.

Soon after, Richards walked up the victim’s driveway with an aluminium baseball bat.

Her ex stopped her and tried to de-escalate, but Richards exclaimed she was going to bash the woman.

While Richards struck the victim’s car with the bat “several times”, she did not cause any significant damage, the documents state.

The man grabbed Richards, placed her in a headlock and took her to the ground, prying the bat from her grasp.

Richards was “stressed” about the Covid pandemic and other factors, the court heard.

Richards was allowed back to her feet and “threatened to come back and hurt the victim when she was alone”.

The victim reported the frightening incident to police and officers arrested and charged Richards the next day.

She told police she felt her ex had been using her for favours, the court was told.

Defence lawyer Vincent Boss told the court Richards’ partner had been unemployed, she was the breadwinner and under pressure.

“She was stressed after being affected by the floods, bushfires and was a health care worker during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“The baseball bat was used to get attention.

Byron Bay Courthouse. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“She has references showing that she is an outstanding woman and a good mother.”

Magistrate Karen Stafford said the victim was entitled to feel safe at home.

“You’re a social worker – you should know how your actions can impact people,” she said.

“It was verbal threats followed up by physical action.

“There was a degree of planning. It wasn’t spontaneous at all.”

Ms Stafford mentioned two prior drink driving offences.

She told the court the way Richards dealt with stress means she would benefit from psychological treatment.

Richards was sentenced on Monday to a supervised community corrections order for two years, including counselling.

An AVO was in place to protect her ex and the victim.