Jessica Kate Sprudzans sentenced in Dalby court for snapping tree branches in Mary’s Place park

A Dalby woman who was seen breaking off the branches of council-owned plants in the newly opened Mary’s Place has found herself in court for the bizarre offences. Full details.

New public park Mary's Place Dalby

A Western Downs woman who was caught repeatedly breaking off the branches of trees in a council-owned park was served a court appearance for the bizarre damage crimes.

Jessica Kate Sprudzans made a guilty plea via letter on file in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 14.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on October 29 just after lunch, an informant from Western Downs Regional Council contacted police in regards to seeing the woman breaking off branches of plants at the recently opened Mary’s Place on Cunningham St.

The new park was opened in August this year in memory of the late pub owner Mary Barry as a way to commemorate her legacy.

“Police conducted patrols of the area in search of (Sprudzans) and observed her breaking a branch with her hand and dropping it when she noticed police,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“She was arrested for wilful damage.”

The court was told later that same day police saw the woman again but this time at Charles Drew Bridge in Dalby, once again breaking branches off in the garden with her hands.

“She just seems to be going around breaking council’s plants,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“I note (Mary’s Place) is brand new, they’ve just built it but that appears to be the level of it.”

He added the woman had been sentenced for another offence of wilful damage earlier in the year however a conviction was not recorded.

“If she had ripped thousands of dollars’ worth of plants out you would maybe record a conviction,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“But it’s just two branches.”

Acting magistrate Michael Bice accepted the woman’s guilty plea to two counts of wilful damage via writing.

She was fined $100, no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Jessica Kate Sprudzans sentenced in Dalby court for snapping tree branches in Mary’s Place park