Kristie Dalton: lash artist convicted of domestic violence offences

A small business owner says a campaign of abuse, harassment and intimidation towards her ex-boyfriend was kickstarted by cocaine use and working long hours.

A successful businesswoman who harassed her ex with dozens of texts and phone calls told a court a toxic relationship marred by illicit drugs had caused her life to spiral out of control.

A court heard glamorous lash artist Kristie Dalton, 32, had never been in any trouble in her life until a marriage breakdown and a subsequent relationship saw her life go off the rails.

In the throes of a toxic relationship and illicit drug use, the Caringbah businesswoman wound up charged with destroying property, intimidation, using a phone to harass and three counts of contravening an apprehended violence order.

The charges emerged from Dalton’s incessant daily texts and phone calls to her ex-boyfriend – even after she was prevented from contacting him – and an incident in which a panel of glass at his Heathcote home was smashed.

Kristie Lea Dalton.

Her solicitor Mary Underwood said it was the tragic result of a “downward spiral”.

“Prior to meeting the victim she and her husband had separated for about 18 months,” Ms Underwood told the court.

“She meets him on social media and her whole life changes.”

Ms Underwood said Dalton and her new partner quickly moved in together and she started using cocaine for the first time as well as working long and extended hours at her lash business.

The court heard Dalton now has post-traumatic stress from the turbulence of the relationship.

“It’s what her children saw, some unsavoury things, that she is most ashamed of,” Ms Underwood said.

“She was almost obsessed with the victim because she had not had many partners and she felt rejected by her husband.”

Kristie Lea Dalton.

At Sutherland Local Court on Thursday, Magistrate Scott Nash convicted Dalton and sentenced her to an 18-month conditional release order.

“It did not involve violence and you are not a violent person,” Mr Nash said.

“It’s clear to me this was a very unfortunate period in your life affected by your choice of relationship but it sounds like you’ve come full circle.”

Mr Nash also restarted two existing 12-month conditional release orders he previously imposed on Dalton for the prior offences called up due to the new charges.

“You’re back on the path towards, for want of a better word, normality,” Mr Nash said.

“You’ve been through a lot and notwithstanding that what you did was wrong and I think you accept that.”

Kristie Lea Dalton.

Dalton was also disqualified from driving for three months and fined $300 for driving with a cancelled licence in an unrelated incident.

She has since reconciled with her husband and has been sober since late 2020.