Young woman knifes colleague who tried to give her advice on how to do the job

It was only her second day on the job at a cafe but things took a sharp turn when Cassidy Devney became ‘overwhelmed’ and lashed out. The victim’s bra underwire helped save her from more serious injury.

Cassidy Caryl Devney pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

At just 21 years old, Cassidy Caryl Devney has already had a taste of what life is like behind the walls of a prison cell after she wounded a work colleague with a knife.

Devney pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

She appeared in court by videolink from the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.

The court heard Devney was only on her second day of a new job at a local cafe when the offence happened.

On April 29 this year she was helping prepare food after being shown and taught by the victim.

The victim offered Devney more advice and guidance before she became overwhelmed and took a break.

When Devney returned the victim asked if she was ok, before the defendant picked up a kitchen knife and thrust it towards the victim.

The victim received a cut to the chest area and believed the underwire in her bra prevented it from being worse.

The court heard Deveny waited outside after the incident for police to arrive and co-operated with their investigations fully.

While Devney had a limited criminal history, it included an entry where she threatened someone with a knife.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Klaassen told the court Devney had served 67 days in presentence custody and that a jail term with immediate parole was within range.

She was also in breach of a probation order.

Devney’s lawyer Lavonda Maloy told the court her client was very remorseful and that her time in jail had been an “absolute awakening”.

Ms Maloy said Devney had used drugs two days before the incident and “didn’t know what came over her”.

She said her client had been exposed to “significant” domestic violence growing up and was also a victim of DV herself.

She said after being kicked out of home she became “associated with unsavoury characters”.

Ms Maloy told the court her client had previously been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and now realised drugs only had an adverse affect on her mental health.

She said thankfully the victim’s injury was minor and Devney made admissions to police, also asking them about the welfare of the victim.

Before she was sentenced Devney said she was going to get assistance for her drug issues and being in jail was a wakeup call.

Magistrate Andrew Moloney took into account Devney’s plea of guilty and considered it an early one.

Mr Moloney also took into account Devney’s history.

He said the incident was consistent with recent drug use and warned her that things could have been much worse.

“This offence could have been absolutely tragic if you followed through with what you did in any more way than what you did,” he said.

“It must have been very frightening for the complainant.”

Devney was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with an immediate parole release.

67 days of presentence custody was declared time already served.

She was convicted and not further punished for breaching her probation and the order was continued.

Originally published as Young woman knifes colleague who tried to give her advice on how to do the job