Shepparton: Natasha Armstrong sentenced after assaulting cops

A former Shepparton bartender was “misguided” by love when she punched off duty cops who wouldn’t buy her boyfriend’s drugs.

A former Shepparton bartender “misguided” by her former partner punched off-duty cops after they wouldn’t buy his drugs, a court has heard.

Natasha Armstrong, 21 of Shepparton, was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order after pleading guilty to two counts of assault and one of recklessly causing injury at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard Armstrong’s former partner offered “googs”, known as ecstasy, to a group of seven officers at the Aussie Hotel in August 2019.

Shortly after, officers told Armstrong and her co-accused to leave the premises before they became argumentative with the then teenager punching one of the officers.

As they went to leave the hotel, Armstrong punched another officer in the face before striking her first victim again.

Security were able to subdue Armstrong following the third punch before her co-accused was capsicum sprayed by on-duty officers who attended the scene.

The pair were taken to Shepparton police station where they provided a no comment interview.

The assault took place at the Aussie Hotel in Shepparton.

Armstrong’s defence lawyer Ian Michaelson said his client had been drawn into the situation by “misguided loyalty” towards her former partner.

He described their relationship as “very poor” and “toxic”.

“She has wised up and ended that relationship,” he said.

“He was clearly the principal in this offending and my client’s involvement was (to a) much lesser (extent).

“She should have exited the situation much, much quicker and avoided being drawn into it all together.”

But Magistrate Steven Raleigh slammed Armstrong’s involvement, rejecting suggestions from the defence that she was not using drugs at the time of the incident.

“Let’s not put it down to her support, she got involved in an incident she shouldn’t have got involved in,” he said.

“She’s had experience working as a barmaid and a bottle shop attendant, so it’s not the first time she has been in a hotel.

“She has put herself right in the wrong position.”

Although Magistrate Raleigh agreed Armstrong had strong life prospects moving forward.

Armstrong’s co-accused had earlier been sentenced to a community corrections order on charges including trafficking MDMA.

Her corrections order was recorded without conviction with a $250 fine also imposed.

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