Woman allegedly punched to face in unprovoked attack while leaving work in Maitland
Jeffrey Darrel Jarvis charged with punching an innocent woman to the face as she walked home from work in Maitland.
Newcastle
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Jeffrey Darrel Jarvis has been charged with punching an innocent woman to the face as she walked home.
In the last five years Jarvis has been convicted of assault, stalk and intimidation, aggravated break and enter according to court documents.
The attack happened after the woman had finished work for the day at around 4.30pm on Monday.
According to police allegations made in court documents, the 62-year-old was walking to the Maitland train station near Church St when she noticed Jarvis walking in an agitated state with his arms swinging wildly. He was being argumentative to other passer bys.
She tried to steer clear of Jarvis but as she approached the pedestrian crossing, police allege he stopped, turned around and suddenly, without warning, punched her right in the face.
The shock and force of the knock caused her to sway and fall to the ground.
Police allege in court documents Jarvis then allegedly yelled, “You did this to me a week ago”, pointing to his eyebrow.
He then allegedly spat in the gutter and said, “you better call the police”.
A witness driving by at the time saw the attack and stopped to help the woman, noticing a large amount of blood and a wide serious gash to her face near the right eye, according to court documents.
She helped her to a nearby pharmacy where she was treated before paramedics had arrived and took her to Maitland Hospital.
Police found Jarvis nearby at the Maitland train station.
Police allege when they approached him he said “I punched an old lady”.
Appearing agitated, he allegedly wrestled with police as they tried to arrest him, before being subdued and handcuffed.
Police allege in court documents Jarvis was later remorseful for his actions, in an interview apologetic for the attack.
In Raymond Terrace Local Court on Thursday, Jarvis didn’t make an appearance in respect of the two charges of reckless wounding.
His solicitor Kath Cooper made an application for him to be sent to the hospital for a mental health assessment.
“I have concerns about him saying irrational things this morning,” she told the court.
“He has had a history of mental health.
“There is no objection to police facts, his behavior was irrational.”
Bail was formally refused, the matter adjourned until February 17.
In July 2018 Jarvis was charged after he committed a racially-motivated attack on an African man at Mayfield East, where the victim was slapped, kicked and verbally abused.
He was jailed for 16 months over the incident.