Mum Roslyn Joyce Bell sentenced for attacking swimmer at Copacabana Beach

New Year’s Day at Copacabana Beach turned into a nightmare for a woman who was humiliated before being physically attacked and spat at by a complete stranger. Mother of four Roslyn Bell has been sentenced over the attack.

A Charlestown mother of four launched a scathing attack on a woman at Copacabana Beach on New Year’s Day, first insulting her before attacking her and spitting in her mouth.

Roslyn Bell, a 49-year-old factory worker, pleaded guilty to one change of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one charge of common assault.

Ms Bell was sentenced at Gosford Local Court on Thursday with Magistrate Michael Antrum describing her behaviour as “disgraceful”.

The incident happened on January 1 2022 at Copacabana Beach when Ms Bell was there with a group of her friends. She and the victim were not known to each other.

Roslyn Bell leaving Gosford Local Court.

An agreed set of facts tendered to the court stated that around 2.30pm, the victim who was also at the beach with friends went for a swim and then walked up the beach to have a shower.

As she walked up she overheard Ms Bell say that she shouldn’t wear that style of outfit.

She heard her say “she’s walking around with her big arse out” and “she needs to tone her legs and her arse. She shouldn’t be wearing the top. She has no boobs.”

The victim showered and returned to her friends. About half an hour later, the victim walked up the beach again and noticed Ms Bell staring at her.

She asked “what are you looking at?”

Ms Bell replied “Look at you, have you looked in a mirror? You shouldn’t look like that at your age”.

The facts state that “the accused spat toward the victim with the spittle landing in the mouth of the victim” who replied “that’s gross”.

The incident happened at picturesque Copacabana Beach.

Ms Bell then grabbed hold of the victim with both her hands and “flung”her against a wooden pole causing her to fall to the ground. She had grazes to the back and elbow.

Ms Bell left the scene and the victim called police and gave a statement.

At around 7pm that night, Ms Bell handed herself into Gosford Police Station and was arrested.

Ms Bell’s defence lawyer indicated Ms Bell, who has problems with alcohol, had been drinking at the time when she insulted the victim.

“My client accepts she started it all and she took the matter to violence as well,” he said.

He said she expressed remorse and apologies to the victim.

Ms Bell was sentenced to a community corrections order. Picture: David Swift

Magistrate Antrum described the facts as “very ordinary”.

“It’s disgusting behaviour, it’s disgraceful,” he said.

“As a mother of four I find it extraordinarily surprising. Not because you are a female but because you are a parent.

“It’s exactly the conduct that you would be appalled about. You are a grown woman.

“You have taken it out on a woman that has just gone for a swim. You have essentially bullied her.

“Given it was in January, to be spitting at anyone is even more of a concern given the Covid issues.”

Ms Bell was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order for 14 months and fined $880.