Paula Tyrie abused school staff as she tried to pick up nine-year-old
A court heard a lawyer sipped on a bottle of Tia Maria before trying to pick up a nine-year-old child from school, and when staff tried to stop her she flew into a rage, screaming and yelling abuse, at one point screaming “I f**king hate you”.
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A court has heard a Newcastle lawyer had an “obvious alcohol problem” when she abused school staff and became aggressive towards the principal, after they tried to stop her picking up a nine-year-old child from school.
On June 10, Paula Anne Tyrie, from Nelson Bay had caught the attention of a parent in the car park, when she collided with bushes and small trees while trying to park at a nearby public school.
Police facts said the 61-year-old was then seen sipping from a bottle of Tia Maria in her vehicle, and “stumbled” as she walked into the school to collect the child.
The parent quickly told staff, who then confronted her in the car park trying to ensure she didn’t leave.
But Tyrie went into a rage and starting yelling: “I f**king hate you. You bastard you can’t stop me”.
Police facts detailed how she continued her tirade against the principal, continuing to yell and swear in-front of parents and children, and “thrusting” her face and body towards her.
“F**k you, you f**king b**ch,” she said to the principal.
When police arrived, she then became hostile at them, continuing to scream and yell before trying to lunge at the principal.
The police report noted Tyrie was unsteady on her feet, was flushed, had watery eyes and smelt strongly of liquor.
When police arrested her, she thrashed her arms and kicked a senior constable with her stiletto heels before she refused to take a breath test.
The court heard when she was later released from custody that same day, she went home and had an argument with family members in a “very ugly incident in front of children” where threats were made, before again being arrested and taken to Mater Hospital for a mental health assessment.
Tyrie pleaded guilty to harass and intimidate school staff member attending school, refuse to submit a breath test and assault police.
She also pleaded guilty to contravene an AVO and two stalk and intimidate charges.
In Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday, Tyrie appeared via video link as her solicitor Kath Cooper said it had been a difficult experience in jail for her client, who had been assaulted twice in unprovoked attacks.
“She was subject to teasing and called ‘white smart bitch’, the environment is very foreign to her,” Ms Cooper said.
“She suffers depression, anxiety and clearly had alcohol problems in past, she’s very unwell. She has difficulty regulating her stress and moods.”
Magistrate Brett Shields said despite the nature of the charges, he accepted there were underlying mental health issues.
“The reason you’re not getting a full time sentence today is due to the obvious alcohol and mental health issues.”
Tyrie was released from custody and sentenced to an 18 month intensive corrections order (ICO) and was disqualified from driving for nine months.
She also must comply with any rehabilitation directed by corrective services and abstain from drinking alcohol.
Tyrie is listed as working as a lawyer in The Junction and covers various criminal matters including drink driving offences.