Leticia Parry sentenced for common assault

An aspiring paramedic from Sydney’s southwest dragged a woman by her hair to the floor of an inner city nightclub – then punched her friend in the mouth, a court has heard.

Leticia Parry, 28, at the Downing Centre Courthouse.

An aspiring paramedic from Sydney’s southwest dragged a woman by her hair to the floor of a nightclub and punched her friend in the mouth because she believed one of them poured a drink on her, a court has heard.

Leticia Parry, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault after her bid to have her charges dismissed under mental health legislation was unsuccessful.

Documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court state Parry was at the Soda Factory in Surry Hills on December 10 last year when an unknown person poured a drink on her.

A male with Parry then pointed to the two female victims to allege they were the culprits – prompting the Macquarie Fields woman to approach the pair on the dance floor.

Leticia Parry, 28.

“The accused grabbed hold of (the first victim’s) hair using her left hand and, in one motion, pulled her backwards towards the ground,” the police facts state.

When the second victim – the first victim’s friend – attempted to intervene, Parry threw a “closed-fist punch which connected with (the woman’s) mouth.”

Police state the second victim felt “stunned” as a result of the punch.

Parry then approached police outside the venue to report someone had thrown a drink on her, before the two victims approached the same officers to report being assaulted.

“Police reviewed footage on the venue’s CCTV which does not depict the initial drink being poured on the accused,” police state.

“However, it does depict the aforementioned events.”

Leticia Parry, 28.

After she was arrested and taken to a police station, Parry told officers “I attacked them, I pulled hair”.

Magistrate Susan Horan refused an application to have the matters dismissed under mental health legislation, stating that while she acknowledged Parry had certain mental health diagnoses, she believed alcohol was a factor.

“Her character references speak very highly of her, and her apology letter was absolutely heartfelt and insightful and I accept that there is a degree of genuine remorse,” Ms Horan stated.

“She’s turned it around, she has been studying to be a paramedic.”

Ms Horan sentenced Parry to an 18-month conditional release order without conviction for both assaults, with a condition that she continue to engage with her GP for treatment.