Stacey Ballantine: Batemans Bay mother back in custody, charged with assault, resist police while on parole

A court’s warning for a south coast mum to “change her ways” has failed to sink in, with the young woman back in custody one month after being convicted and sentenced for assaulting police and breaking into a petrol station.

Mother-of-three, Stacey Ballantine. Picture: Facebook

A mother warned by a court to change her ways after she assaulted police during a petrol station break-in has returned to custody one month into her parole, after allegedly threatening a man with a knife and resisting police.

Stacey Ballantine, 34, was sentenced in the Batemans Bay Local Court on September 26, after assaulting police and smashing a Batehaven petrol station’s door and windows with a crowbar.

The Batemans Bay mother of three previously pleaded guilty to armed with intent to commit indictable offence, destroy or damage property, assault police officer and hinder or resist arrest before she was convicted and sentenced to a backdated fixed term of 12 months in custody – four without parole.

Agreed facts stated on May 4 this year, Ballantine broke into the Batehaven Ampol petrol station, before threatening and abusing police who arrived shortly after, telling them she would “break their f--king neck”.

Due to the backdated sentence, Ballantine was released on parole on September 26, with Magistrate Doug Dick warning her not return to her old ways.

Stacey Ballantine returned to the Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

“Your children need a mum,” he said.

However, just weeks after the stern warning, the 34-year-old mother returned to court facing new charges.

Ampol Service Station, Batehaven. Picture: Tom McGann

In court on Monday, Ballantine pleaded guilty to armed with intent to commit indictable offence and hinder or resist police, however, she pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalk and intimidate and three counts of contravening an AVO.

Police allege on October 27 – one month after she was released on parole – Ballantine threatened a man with a “large kitchen chopping knife” in Batemans Bay, before hindering officers who arrived shortly after.

Documents tendered to the court also allege Ballantine broke AVO orders three times between October 26 and 27.

Ballantine was arrested, charged and refused bail on October 27.

In court on Monday, Ballantine’s lawyer, Samantha Henry, fought for bail on the basis her client was a “great mother” who needed her children.

Ms Henry also submitted that Ballantine would adhere to strict bail conditions.

However, Mr Dick promptly refused bail, noting she was on parole after just being sentenced for the Batehaven break and enter and police assault.

“I have regard for the defence submissions, but I must have regard for the fact that she was on parole,” he said.

Ballantine will return to court on January 30, 2025, for her hearing on the new charges.

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