Tanaeyah Cooke faces sentencing hearing for brutal bashing at Mr Crown, Wollongong

A woman who was brutally hit over the head with a bottle of alcohol while out at a popular Illawarra nightclub has revealed the heartbreaking struggles she now faces after the cowardly attack left her with a brain injury.

Tanaeyah Cooke assaulted the woman at Mr Crown in Wollongong. Picture: File

A woman who was brutally hit over the head with a bottle of alcohol while out at a popular Illawarra nightclub has revealed the heartbreaking struggles she now faces after the cowardly attack left her with a fractured skull and a brain injury.

The woman – who wished to remain anonymous – bravely spoke in Wollongong District Court on Thursday, the day her attacker, Tanaeyah Cooke was facing a sentence hearing.

Cooke, 21, was found guilty of recklessly cause grievous bodily harm following a two-day judge-alone trial in the same court last week.

The Ingleburn woman was ultimately found not guilty of wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and instead guilty to the lesser charge for which she was sentenced on.

The complainant spoke to the court via video link on Thursday, saying her ability to sleep, eat, think, work, start a family, buy a house, hold a job, and complete day-to-day activities were now difficult.

Tanaeyah Cooke’s sentence hearing occurred in Wollongong District Court on Thursday. (File picture: Dylan Arvela)

Her brain injury occurred on the evening of February 25, 2023 at popular Wollongong nightclub Mr Crown, when Cooke – who was 18 at the time – hit her over the head with an alcohol bottle, knocking her unconscious.

As the complainant fell, Cooke hit her with another punch.

The woman was rushed to Wollongong Hospital where it was later revealed she suffered substantial brain injuries.

Following the attack, Cooke was arrested and granted bail, which she remained on during her trial and sentence hearing.

“I was forced to have surgery, forced to have seven teeth dislodged from my jaw,” the complainant said on Thursday.

“What seems like very simple tasks become monumental achievements.

“Brain injuries do not just affect your life or memory, but they affect your ability and they affect the life you live until you die.”

The woman heartbreakingly revealed how her brain injury drastically increased her chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

“I will be lucky to live past 65,” she said, holding back tears.

“From this day, I have been dealing with the ramifications of somebody else’s actions.

“I will never be free of my permanent disfigurement and brain damage.”

Cooke’s defence barrister Adam Booker called on a family friend of his client to speak on her character.

She labelled Cooke “lovely” and spoke of her difficult upbringing.

Mr Booker submitted the injuries sustained were “clearly” serious, but said Cooke’s act was “spontaneous” and “spur of the moment”.

He asked Judge Andrew Haesler for an intensive correction order, submitting the offending fell at the mid-range of seriousness.

Judge Haesler will hand down judgment on Friday.

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