Tiffiny Crofts charged with alleged stabbing at Tuggerah Westfield

A woman charged with an alleged stabbing at a busy Westfield has been branded a “thief” and a “bad driver” by her own lawyer but violence was “out of character”, a court heard.

Tiffiny Crofts, 23, has been charged with allegedly stabbing Tammy Ford at Westfield Tuggerah on about 9am on Sunday, February 4, 2024. (Picture: file image)

A 23-year-old woman has been charged with allegedly stabbing another woman, 21, at Westfield Tuggerah after “a degree of planning”, a court has heard.

Tiffiny Crofts, of Tuggerah, faced Gosford Local Court on Thursday charged with the alleged wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Tammy Ford, 21,

Ms Ford attended Wyong Police Station about 10am on Sunday, February 4, with multiple stab wounds to her upper arms and back.

She was treated at the station by paramedics before being flown to Royal North Shore Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Tuggerah Lakes Police established a crime scene at Tuggerah Westfield before arresting the alleged “getaway driver” Maddison Kelly, 21, of Berkeley Vale, on Monday.

Maddison Kelly (left), 21, of Berkeley Vale, leaving Wyong Local Court where she was granted bail on a charge of being an accessory after the fact to reckless wounding following a stabbing at Tuggerah Westfield, Picture: NewsLocal

She was charged with being an accessory after the fact to wounding and faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where she was granted bail. She has not entered a plea.

Meanwhile police arrested Ms Crofts on Wednesday and charged her with the alleged stabbing.

Ms Ford was allegedly lured to the carpark of Westfield Tuggerah where she was allegedly stabbed. Picture: Mark Scott

Her Legal Aid solicitor applied for bail on Thursday, telling the court Ms Crofts’ extensive criminal record had no matters of violence.

“You can call her a thief, you can call her a bad driver [but] violence is out of her character,” he said.

Ms Crofts’ lawyer said while there was CCTV and other evidence pointing to a “strong prosecution case”, it was the court’s function at this stage in the proceedings to assess any further risk to the community rather than make any findings of guilt or start “punishment”.

Magistrate Pauline Wright said taking the police facts sheet “at its highest” there appeared to be “a degree of planning”.

She said Ms Ford was contacted by phone by other people who orchestrated for her to meet at the Tuggerah Westfield car park in order for Ms Crofts to allegedly carry out the attack.

Ms Wright refused Ms Crofts bail and she was adjourned to face Wyong Local Court on April 2 to coincide with Ms Kelly’s next appearance.