Chantal Spencer: Shepparton mum holds woman captive, assaults her

A Shepparton mum who had to be told to stop smoking in her court hearing, has admitted to holding a woman captive and assaulting her.

Chantal Spencer pleaded guilty to imprisoning a woman.

A Shepparton mum held another woman captive overnight and assaulted her, a court has heard.

Chantal Louise Spencer, 37, fronted the County Court on Tuesday, via videolink from her home while on bail.

Spencer pleaded guilty to a range of charges, including false imprisonment and recklessly causing injury, after Judge Johns indicated he would not order her to serve more jail time than the amount she had served before he previously granted her bail.

The mother admitted to detaining a woman against her will in Shepparton from July 16 to July 17, 2019 and to assaulting the woman.

The court heard Spencer also had ice and a stolen Indonesian passport with her at the time.

Spencer, who appeared before the court wearing a bandana, had to be asked to stop smoking before the Judge entered the court hearing.

Spencer’s lawyer told the court his client had significantly cut back on her ice use and alcohol consumption while on bail, but was still drinking and using the drug daily.

It was heard the mum, who had not worked for sometime and was on the disability support pension, had three children living at home with her, while she also had 20-month old twins.

Spencer’s lawyer asked for his client, as an Indigenous woman, to have her case heard in the Koori Court.

Judge Johns ordered Spencer be thoroughly assessed for a community corrections order.

Spencer will return to court later this month.