Taryn Elise Oxford: South Coast hairdresser sentenced for nightclub assault of intellectually disabled teen

A South Coast hairdresser who abused an intellectually disabled teenager before pulling her to the ground in a popular Illawarra nightclub has been sentenced.

A South Coast hairdresser who drunkenly assaulted an intellectually disabled teenager in a popular Illawarra nightclub has been slapped with a criminal conviction for her “foolish” actions.

Taryn Elise Oxford, from Sanctuary Point, fronted Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to a single charge of common assault.

Documents tendered to the court said the victim was sitting with friends at the Illawarra Hotel at about 10.40pm on June 25 this year while Oxford was “twerking and dancing” with a group of friends.

The court heard Oxford saw the teen laughing with friends and believed she was laughing at her, prompting Oxford to confront her.

Police allege Oxford told the victim “I’m going to slit your throat” and “go f*** yourself c****”, however defence lawyer Anthony Williamson told the court his client disputed using that exact language, but admitted she had used “severe” words towards the victim.

Taryn Elise Oxford was convicted of assaulting another woman at the Illawarra Hotel. Picture: Shannon Tonkin

The court heard the victim told Oxford she wasn’t laughing at her and to keep dancing before Oxford got in her face and allegedly told her “you deserve to die”.

As security guards approached Oxford to ask her to leave, the 25-year-old rushed at the victim, grabbing her hair and pulling her off the bar stool and onto the ground.

Oxford was kicked out of the nightclub and stopped by police a short time later where she admitted to pulling the victim’s hair.

In court on Tuesday, Mr Williamson said Oxford had been drinking heavily before the incident and was highly intoxicated.

He noted a doctor’s report said Oxford had a problematic history with alcohol and that she had a “tendency to abuse alcohol from time to time”.

Taryn Elise Oxford leaving Wollongong Courthouse on Tuesday. Picture: Shannon Tonkin

He said Oxford was seeking professional treatment including seeing a counsellor.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Richard Novatin said the victim had experienced ongoing pain from being pulled backwards off the chair that night and was currently seeing a physiotherapist for treatment.

Magistrate Chris McRobert said Oxford had made a “fool of herself” by drinking too much alcohol and acting the way she did.

However, he accepted she had no prior criminal record and that her behaviour that night had been an aberration.

Oxford was convicted of the charge, but received no further penalty.