Natasha Donnelly avoids jail on assault charges
A woman who drunkenly assaulted police officers and a security guard at Nepean Hospital has successfully appealed her sentence.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Alleged puppy scam: Blake Morris faces court on fraud charges
- Penrith Panthers: Kemal Isguzar faces court after alleged Panthers rampage
A woman who drunkenly assaulted police officers and a security guard at Nepean Hospital has successfully appealed her jail sentence.
Natasha Renee Donnelly, of Kingswood, was on community corrections orders when she was arrested on Christmas Eve last year for breaching an apprehended violence order.
When she was taken to Nepean Hospital for treatment, Donnelly lashed out at police and a security guard while under the influence of alcohol.
A court heard in February that her offending generally involved being drunk and violent.
After a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2018, she was then charged with contravening an AVO and resisting an officer in 2019.
Her offending on Christmas Eve led to charges of contravening an AVO, four counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting police in the execution of duty, and common assault.
Donnelly pleaded guilty to the charges and was originally sentenced to 12 months in jail, but appealed the sentence almost immediately.
She was granted bail by Judge Mark Buscombe in the District Court shortly after her appeal.
Today, Judge Buscombe sentenced Donnelly to a 12-month jail sentence to be served in the community as an ICO.
Judge Buscombe said a sentencing assessment report was “favourable” and that Donnelly’s current accommodation was suitable for home detention.
“It’s important she gets her life back to some degree of normality,” he said.
Donnelly will be under home detention for the first eight months of her sentence, and must abstain from both alcohol and drugs for the duration.
“She needs to fully understand that she is not to consume alcohol or prohibited drugs as part of this order,” Judge Buscombe said.
“She has engaged to some degree with rehabilitation, but it would be foolish to think she’s put those demons behind her.
“If you don’t keep the terms, you won’t come back to court, it will go straight to the parole authority who can send you to prison.
“You need to be careful.”