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Pub brawl lands Dalby woman in court

The court heard how the offender verbally abused another woman before launching an attack with a wine bottle.

A 35 year-old Western Downs woman has faced the Dalby District Court on Tuesday after drunkenly assaulting a woman with a wine bottle.

Teagan Lahill Towns appeared pleaded guilty to one count of assault while armed with an offensive instrument occasioning bodily harm following an attack on July 16, 2023.

The court heard Towns was at a Dalby pub when she got into a verbal argument with another woman who worked at the venue.

The victim, who was not working at the venue at the time of the offending, took issue with Towns telling her she wasn't allowed to drink from a glass container and saying she had to to “f**k off” from the pub.

During the argument Towns smashed the glass she was holding and when the defendant attempted to take a photograph of her she grabbed her phone and threw it into nearby bushes

After her phone was thrown the defendant, she pushed Towns at which point she swung back with her hand holding the wine bottle which hit the defendant but didn't break.

CCTV footage which was played in court showed a melee erupting with Towns striking the woman to the face several times and throwing her to the ground where she continued to punch her.

Following the assault the defendant sustained a black eye, a lump on the head and abrasions to her face.

The prosecution told the court Towns had a history of public nuisance and drunk and disorderly offences and had been before the Dalby Court in 2017 for a similar fight at a pub.

The defence acknowledged Towns had a negative relationship with alcohol which had stemmed from the loss of her father, but said the defendant was also intoxicated and had in their opinion started the fight.

They also noted she was in a domestic violence relationship which would go some way to explaining her behaviour.

They further drew attention to her remorse with Towns telling the court she was “really sorry” for what she did.

When sentencing Judge Dennis Lynch took into account Town’s criminal history and circumstances and told her she was “incredibly fortunate” the bottle hadn't broken.

Towns was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and immediately released on parole.

Originally published as Pub brawl lands Dalby woman in court

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/dalby/police-courts/pub-brawl-lands-dalby-woman-in-court/news-story/9a50e4a8dc25f784372bb759e6d89fdb