Teagan Don: single mum who assaulted elderly man after a drunken night at a bowls club sentenced in court

A single mum’s drunken night at a bowls club ended with her assaulting a man in his 70s and a co-accused punching his face. Read what the magistrate had to say to her.

Teagan Don, 32, was sentenced over assaulting an elderly man as he was leaving the Helensvale Bowls Club with his partner. Picture: Facebook

A single mum who assaulted a man in his 70s after having a drunken night at a Gold Coast bowls club has been sentenced in court.

Teagan Don, 32, pleaded guilty to commit public nuisance in vicinity of a licence premise, common assault and wilful damage at the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard that Don and a male co-offender attended the Helensvale Bowls Club where they commenced drinking and became intoxicated on May 28, 2024. While in the club, they began throwing food and verbally abusing staff.

Around 6pm that night the pair were removed from the venue, made their way through the car park and were standing in the driveway exit.

At that time, an elderly couple in a car leaving the club were unable to exit the car park because of Don and the co-offender standing in the way.

The male driver, who was in his 70s, honked his horn but the pair refused to move.

When the man wound down his window, Don leaned in, yelled at him, grabbed his shirt and ripped it.

The court heard Don’s male co-offender punched the elderly man in the face.

The co-offender has been through the courts, was sentenced to five months of jail and has been released to parole, the court heard.

Also dealt with in court was a previous incident where Don had ripped a neon sign at The Club at Parkwood Village around 7pm on May 11.

Teagan Don, 32, was sentenced over assaulting an elderly man as he was leaving the Helensvale Bowls Club with his wife. Picture: Emily Walker

Magistrate Nerida Wilson said that Don’s behaviour at the bowls club was reprehensible.

She noted Don had no prior charges in Queensland but did have a criminal history in Victoria.

The court heard that Don had been sexually assaulted in February last year and afterwards had increased her drinking, causing her to have outbursts and blackouts.

Ms Wilson said these events gave background to the offences but didn’t fully explain Don’s criminal history predating the assault in February.

She told Ms Don that every single person in the community should be safe to attend any club of their choosing.

“This elderly couple’s life will no doubt be changed in some irreparable way and possibly forever,” she said.

“Now you have to live with that and there are consequences to this offending.”

She accepted that Don was attending Alcoholics Anonymous, had joined a church and had every prospect of rehabilitation.

Don was sentenced to a community service order of 100 hours, to be completed in 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay $3,806 in restitution. No conviction was recorded.