Wyong: Jet flame kidnapping victim Mariana Cheri Taitoko charged with assault, vandalism

A woman who was allegedly kidnapped for three days and burned with a jet flame lighter before escaping and raising the alarm about an alleged murder has failed to front court on her own charges.

Mariana Cheri Taitoko was kidnapped at Wyong but has failed to attend court charged with her own offences. Picture: Facebook

A woman who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured with a jet flame cigarette lighter at a Wyong housing commission unit block, before managing to escape, has failed to attend court on assault, vandalism and trespassing charges.

Mariana Cheri Taitoko, of Blue Haven, made national headlines when she was kidnapped for three days and burned with a jet lighter before managing to escape and raise the alarm about the alleged murder of Sean Froggatt, 52, on January 28.

But the grandmother, who turned 45 on Thursday, failed to appear at Wyong Local Court for the third consecutive time on Wednesday charged with offences of her own.

Ms Taitoko was charged after allegedly trespassing on a property on Kala Ave, Halekulani, about 4pm on October 15 last year where she allegedly assaulted a male occupant of the address and broke a window.

Ms Taitoko was granted bail to face Wyong Local Court on December 7 but did not appear.

The Levitt St housing commission units at Wyong where Ms Taitoko was held against her will. Picture: John Grainger

Instead she sent a letter to the court but then failed to appear again when her matter was listed for mention on January 18 when she called ahead and left a message.

Ms Taitoko was due to face court a third time on Wednesday, February 15, but failed to appear and did not advise the court by phone, email or letter that she wouldn’t be attending.

Her matter was adjourned March 1.

Ms Taitoko managed to escape a block of units residents have dubbed the “Ice Palace” at Wyong. Picture: Facebook.

It comes after Ms Taitoko survived after allegedly being kidnapped and held against her will in a unit at a notorious housing commission block of flats at Levitt St, Wyong, on Australia Day.

Ms Taitoko managed to escape shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, January 28, and fled to a nearby unit where she raised the alarm about the welfare of 52-year-old Sean Froggatt who had also been kidnapped.

Police attended the Wyong unit block and discovered Mr Froggatt’s body.

A man, Danial Hasapis, 30, was arrested at the unit and charged with Mr Froggatt’s murder and kidnapping of Ms Taitoko.

Mr Hasapis’ girlfriend, hairdresser Bonnie Cullen, 33, was later charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.

Both Mr Hasapis and Ms Cullen were refused bail to appear on March 28.