Shania Rafter: Werrington woman punched man after argument over support dog

A woman who engaged in ‘excessive self defence’ by striking a man twice who had swore at her because he didn’t like her support dog has been sentenced.

A woman who engaged in ‘excessive self defence’ by striking a man twice after he swore at her at a train station has escaped conviction.

Shania Rafter, of Werrington, pleaded guilty to common assault before Penrith Local Court on Friday.

Shania Rafter pleaded guilty to common assault.

The court heard Rafter and her partner were with a support dog at a train station just over a year ago when a man started staring at the dog “who does not like males”.

Rafter’s lawyer said in an act of “excessive self defence”, Rafter struck the man twice after he initiated contact and shouted at her.

He also asked that the magistrate take his client’s age and record into consideration.

“She had been 18-years-old for five days at the time of this offence,” he said. “It’s encouraging that since this offence there has been no more offending for more than upwards of a year.”

Shania Rafter outside Penrith local court with her partner.

Magistrate Georgia Knight took all factors into consideration.

“I note the nature of the assault and that you were very upset. You called the police and the victim was the one who started shouting and was the initial person to engage in physical contact with you but you did take it too far,” she said.

The magistrate revealed that she had been bitten by dogs multiple times herself.

“Let me digress and say this about the dog. It’s all well to say he won’t bite but you can’t make guarantees for your dog. I can understand aggressive action from someone who is threatened by a dog.”

Rafter was sentenced to a nine month conditional release order without conviction.