KFC worker Amber Watts, Karalee, fronts Ipswich Court for attacking teen in bedroom

A southeast Queensland court has heard how a 17-year-old girl was confronted by six individuals armed with baseball bats and knives outside her bedroom window, before being attacked on her own bed by a young fast food worker.

Karalee KFC worker Amber Watts, 20, outside Ipswich Court on December 14, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A young fast food worker has faced court for ‘terrorising’ a younger girl by breaking into her bedroom and attacking her with a group of armed individuals in a suburb west of Brisbane.

Karalee KFC worker Amber Watts, 20, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on December 14, 2023, to entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence (assault), along with wilful damage.

The court heard Watts was just 18 when she, and allegedly five others, confronted a 17-year-old girl at her Ipswich home in August, 2021.

Acting Magistrate Paul Byrne said Watts was armed with a small knife and two of the others had baseball bats.

He said Watts had sent the girl messages before coming to the house, telling her they were on their way, and that she also sent her a video of the girl’s house from outside.

“That clearly shows to me that it was premeditated, that the advance warning was to intimidate – a bit like a torturer putting their tools out on display for the victim to see,” Mr Byrne said.

The court heard Watts briefly spoke to the girl through her bedroom window, before she pushed the window open and climbed in.

While in the house, Watts grabbed the girl’s hair and swung her into the window before pushing her onto the bed.

There, Watts slapped her in the head and knocked her phone out of her hand, causing the screen the crack.

Mr Byrne said the girl suffered bruising to her legs and incurred various costs to replace her phone screen, attend a psychologist, and also to see a doctor.

Karalee KFC worker Amber Watts, 20, outside Ipswich Court on December 14, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Defence lawyer Mickaela Brown noted her client had been cooperative with police, and said a psychologist’s report indicated she was struggling with various personal stressors at the time.

But Mr Byrne pointed out inconsistencies in the version of events Watts gave to the psychologist, saying it appeared she had been trying to “shift the blame” to one of her co-accused.

“I think Ms Watts might be an unreliable historian,” he said.

Mr Byrne accepted Watts had reliable employment, no criminal history, and that she had made efforts to improve her prospects in the years since the offending.

But he emphasised that this would have been a “terrifying incident for anyone to go through”.

“It’s an extremely anti-social and terrorising act … We don’t live in a country where terrorisation is acceptable,” he said.

Watts was sentenced to two years’ probation, with no convictions recorded.

She was further ordered to pay $500 in restitution to the victim.

Originally published as KFC worker Amber Watts, Karalee, fronts Ipswich Court for attacking teen in bedroom