Samantha Anderson, 54, pleads guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm at Wardell in northern NSW
A Northern Rivers woman bashed a disability support worker in front of two young special needs clients and her grandchildren, leaving the victim in hospital.
Regional News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Regional News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A West Ballina woman bashed a disability support worker in front of two young special needs clients and her grandchildren, resulting in her being hospitalised.
Samantha Anderson, 54, pleaded guilty on Friday to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Anderson did not know the worker when she hopped out of her car near her, police state in documents handed up to Ballina Local Court.
The victim was walking down Richmond St, Wardell with the pair of clients and her two grandchildren when Anderson approached about 4.50pm on March 20.
Police state: “There was a verbal argument between the women which escalated into a physical confrontation.”
“Anderson grabbed the victim and took her to the ground, striking her several times with her fist, causing injuries,” the documents read.
Witnesses pulled Anderson off the victim and when police arrived they found “the victim sitting in the back of an ambulance with two black eyes and swelling on the forehead”.
Anderson claimed to police the victim “approached” and exclaimed “do you want to have a go”.
“I said ‘c’mon then’. She threw the first punch at me, she missed, I jumped back,” she said.
“Then I punched her and knocked her to the ground.”
The worker was taken to Ballina District Hospital for treatment of various injuries, including bruising to the back of the head and face.
She complained of a headache and told medical staff she believed she suffered a concussion, the court was told.
Anderson, wearing distinct purple hair, looked down and showed little visible emotion as the case was heard.
Defence lawyer Daniel Haig told the court Anderson was an Indigenous woman and he argued the support worker encouraged the fight.
“Anderson also incurred some injuries as a result of the injury,” he said.
“It was a case of excessive self-defence.
“Her last conviction for a violence-related charge happened in 2009. There’s been a significant gap in offending.
“She has strong community ties and is planning to become an inspection officer for Aboriginal housing.”
Police prosecutor Val Short said Anderson went “beyond self-defence” and officers weren’t aware of any injuries.
Magistrate Kathy Crittenden said the victim was taken to the ground by Anderson and struck in the head multiple times.
“This happened in the presence of four vulnerable people,” she said.
“The victim didn’t do anything.
“There is a need to recognise the harm done to the victim who was walking along the street minding her own business, violence cannot be tolerated in the community.”
However, Ms Crittenden said there had been “no further offending since the event”.
Ms Crittenden sentenced Anderson to a two-year community correction order, fined her $800 and a conviction was recorded.
Anderson was ordered to attend anger management courses.
More Coverage
Originally published as Samantha Anderson, 54, pleads guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm at Wardell in northern NSW
Norco truck driver fighting for life as crash probe launched
A Norco milk truck driver is fighting for life in hospital after colliding with a ute on a major roadway near Coffs Harbour, with police launching a probe into the crash. Here’s the latest.
Man dies after boat capsizes in river mouth
A boatie has died on the state’s Mid-North Coast after his vessel capsized in a river mouth, with lifeguards describing the fatality as a “sad incident so close to the end of the summer holiday period”.