Pelican researcher Wendy Gillespie convicted of assaulting wildlife volunteer
They should be birds of a feather but pelican researcher Wendy Gillespie has let fly at a wildlife rescuer, which has seen her fall foul of the courts. READ HER ABUSIVE TEXT MESSAGES.
Self-styled animal welfare warrior Wendy Gillespie has devoted much of her life to researching pelicans and now she’s been caught out behaving like one.
Gillespie, 59, of Ourimbah, was convicted of assaulting a volunteer from Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast and menacing him over the phone after the pair got into a barney over a couple of sick or injured pelicans.
The fracas started about 1.40pm on October 3, 2018, when wildlife rescuer Marc Jacewicz was called to assist two pelicans in distress on a small sandbar off Blackwall.
When he arrived he was met by pelican researcher Gillespie who started yelling abuse at him in relation to the birds.
He tried to defuse the situation but a court heard Gillespie’s feathers were well and truly ruffled as she gave him a foul-mouthed tirade.
“You have f … ed this group … you have f … d this group because you are inexperienced,” she screamed.
“Just get off the island.”
She was carrying on so aggressively Mr Jacewicz started filming her on his phone.
That is when a hearing at Wyong Local Court yesterday heard she pushed him in the chest.
He stumbled off balance because he was not expecting it and felt a small pain in his chest.
The court heard at one point the incident sounded like a scene reminiscent of a Benny Hill skit with Gillespie chasing him around the island in her little kayak.
She eventually left and he reported it to police.
But not to be outdone the court heard she tracked down his mobile phone number and rang it at 8.36pm on October 25.
When he answered she hung up. She called again but he let it go to voicemail and she left a message.
Mr Jacewicz texted her back saying “go away … just leave me alone, go away please”.
She replied: “Go tonight you absolute Spineless Tosser & when the objective evidence reveals you killed 50 defenceless young pelicans & 200 new borns & did over 300 nesting parents I’m sure they’ll be interested!!! HAVE YOU PUT IN YOUR OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE YET MATE???? … Because I can suggest as a disgraceful, arrogant MEGA COWARD this may be your LAST STAND!! Cheers you TRAGIC OXYGEN THIEF FROM HELL … Call & talk to me to show that you’re not the MOST SPINELESS INDIVIDUAL THAT I’VE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO COME ACROSS … What’s your primary issue your DAY JOB DOESN’T FIT WITH YOUR EGO???”
The rant continued in which she accused Mr Jacewicz and his “cohorts from COWBOY WORLD” of contributing to the death of 50 young birds.
The abusive texts continued and when Mr Jacewicz went to Wyong Police Station to report it Gillespie rang his phone four or five times.
Eventually a police officer answered it.
“The accused sounded highly intoxicated whilst on the phone as she was slurring her words, argumentative and refusing to listen to what police were saying on the phone as she did not believe it was the police,” a police facts sheet read.
She attended Wyong Police Station the following day in relation to an unrelated outstanding apprehended violence order and was cautioned before being charged with common assault and menacing Mr Jacewicz over the phone.
She pleaded guilty to the menacing offence but pleaded not guilty to the assault.
However, Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis found her guilty of the assault and she was put on a community corrections order for six months.
As part of the order Gillespie has to abstain from alcohol for three months.
Ms Ellis found Gillespie had used her phone to menace Mr Jacewicz but she did not convict her and instead ordered her to be of good behaviour for six months and surrender $200 surety.
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