Jahnessa Jerome jailed for stabbing partner for second time in Wollongong

An Illawarra parolee has been jailed again after she stabbed her partner for the second time only months after being released from prison.

Jahnessa Jerome has been jailed for stabbing her partner.

An Illawarra parolee has been jailed again after she stabbed her partner for the second time only months after being released from prison.

Jahnessa Evelyn Jerome appeared in Wollongong District Court where she was sentenced for three years and three months with a non-parole period of one year and one month for reckless wounding and knowingly contravening an apprehended domestic violence order.

Agreed facts said Jerome and her partner had been in a domestic relationship for 11 years and there was an AVO court order in place for his protection.

In 2021, Jerome was jailed for three years for stabbing her partner twice in a drug-induced state and she was released to parole in October 2022.

The court heard the man contacted police to report that Jerome had turned up at his Bourke St, North Wollongong house on April 25 last year and would not leave.

Jahnessa Jerome was sentenced in Wollongong District Court.

However she was not at the premises when police arrived.

On May 6, the man became frustrated when Jerome would not leave his house and that she had taken his phone.

The man demanded she return his phone so he could contact police, telling her “I’ve had enough of you”.

The pair started to wrestle and Jerome tackled her ex-partner to the ground where she used a steak knife and slashed his hand, wrist and arm.

The man sustained a large 6cm wound to his left arm, a laceration to his wrist, a significant cut to his palm where nerves and muscle were visible; and a severed nerve in his finger.

He used a scarf to stem the bleeding and left the house where a neighbour contacted Triple 0, before paramedics transported him to Wollongong Hospital where he required surgery.

Police officers spoke to Jerome later that day where she was found in possession of the knife and was arrested.

The court heard Jerome had previously been sentenced for two counts of reckless wounding and contravening an AVO related to the same victim along with other property-related offences in Queensland.

The court heard at the time of her release to parole in October 2022 she was motivated to address her psychological issues.

However, she breached her parole conditions a number of times by visiting her partner despite being warned multiple times to not contact him.

The court heard Jerome only had sporadic contact with Community Corrections and failed to address her mental health problems before her parole was revoked.

She was released in March but within a week, she contacted her partner again.

The court heard Jerome had family support but had a difficult upbringing, was homeless in her teen years and used drugs.

She also had paranoid symptoms, delusions and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder.

The court heard Jerome told a psychiatrist that during the scuffle she “accidentally” cut the victim’s wrists.

The psychiatrist noted her schizophrenia impaired her planning and capacity to think about the consequences which likely had an impact on her impulsive actions and ability to maintain housing, employment and social connections.

The court heard Jerome had successfully applied for NDIS funding to help her with her accommodation, daily living, social participation and counselling upon her release, and that she had engaged with an Aboriginal women’s health and justice program.

Judge William Fitzsimmons accepted the incident was not planned or premeditated.

He noted Jerome was on parole for the same offence against the same victim, adding she repeatedly breached the AVO and showed little remorse.

Jerome will be eligible for release to parole on August 21, 2025.