Belinda Vandersee ordered to undergo drug and alcohol rehab
A trip to Sydney for a night at The Star casino turned sour when a North Haven nail technician got involved in an ugly fracas with security and police. And it didn’t end there.
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A self employed nail and beauty technician will undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation during a 15-month supervised community corrections order for assaults she committed against police, security guards and her own neighbour.
Belinda Fay Vandersee, of North Haven, appeared confused in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday as Magistrate Georgina Darcy imposed the orders for five charges relating to assault, resisting arrest and remaining on enclosed lands when ordered to leave.
The charges related to separate offences that occurred on June 23, August 29 and 30 this year.
“I understand … I understand, OK,” the 39-year-old said, as she left court after the sentencing.
Court documents stated Vandersee’s offending began when she was at The Star casino, Sydney, with a friend about 9.45pm on June 23.
The pair entered the establishment but were told access to the gaming floor was restricted to members due to COVID-19 protocols, and that they couldn’t enter.
An agitated Vandersee began to argue the staff member’s right of refusal, before security was called.
The pair were escorted outside, where Vandersee continued to deliberate before punching the female guard in the face.
She connected with her mouth, causing pain to her lip, teeth and gums and swelling to her face. Police were called and she was arrested and charged with common assault after they allege that she made admissions of guilt and she was only ‘sticking up for herself.’
But while the charge was still pending, Ms Vandersee was arrested again by police when drinking with neighbour Tamahra Mason whose property she was at in North Haven on August 29.
She joined her neighbour and her friend about 6:30pm, and began drinking. Ms Mason and her friend had been commemorating the anniversary of the death of a mutual friend.
Throughout the evening, Ms Vandersee became quite aggressive while consuming butterscotch alcoholic drinks. After being told to leave by Ms Mason, Ms Vandersee grabbed her shirt and punched her to the left side of the face causing Ms Mason’s head to hit the hallway wall.
Police were called. By this stage, Ms Vandersee returned to her unit next door where police apprehended her. During the arrest, she spat at police.
She was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where she resisted being held in custody.
When asked to be searched by police, she told them she had an ice pipe stowed ‘in her bum’ and then threw it at them. She was charged with assaulting police and resisting an officer while in the execution of duty.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault, assaulting police while in the execution of duty, resisting an officer while in the execution of his or her duty and remaining on enclosed lands.
She was ordered to a maximum 15 months supervised corrections order, and to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation for illicit substance abuse that she had been battling since the age of 15.
Vandersee’s lawyer said she agreed to the orders and said she made admissions that she was ‘willing to enter alcohol and other drug rehabilitation programs as soon as possible to address her self admitted addition to illicit substances.’