Andrina Romona Barry jailed for punching a woman in a random attack at Yeppoon

The Central Queensland woman lashed out after her request for $5 was refused. It was not the first time she had attacked a stranger in public and she was punished accordingly. Read what happened to her in court.

Police were called to an incident at Yeppoon where a stranger attacked a 20-year-old woman in a random assault. Generic image.

A woman who punched a stranger in the mouth in a random and unprovoked attack at Yeppoon has been sent to jail.

Andrina Romona Barry, 36, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on February 11 to assault and public nuisance.

Police Prosecutor Clancy Fox said that Barry’s latest offending happened on November 29 last year.

He said in relation to the public nuisance offence, it occurred at the Blue Dolphin Caravan Park on Whitman Street, Yeppoon.

Mr Fox said a disturbance, where Barry was standing in the middle of the street yelling at people and cars to run her over, was reported to police.

When police arrived, Barry was on the footpath outside the caravan park.

“They spoke with her - she said she’d had an argument with her boyfriend, she was waiting for someone to pick her up to take her back to Rockhampton,” Mr Fox said.

While police were there, three juvenile girls were walking along the footpath when Barry started spitting towards them.

Mr Fox said Barry also yelled three times at the girls, calling them “s---s.”

Barry was warned by police about her conduct but she continued her offensive behaviour towards members of the public.

She yelled at a person standing on a balcony across the road, saying “mother------” twice, and “father------” once.

She was then taken to the police station.

The more serious offence of assault happened about 12.10pm on the same day.

Mr Fox said the 20-year-old female victim, who did not know Barry, had parked her car across the road from a dental surgery on Whitman Street.

“She (victim) had exited her car and was walking towards that dental surgery.

“The defendant was sitting on the footpath near that car. She yelled out to the victim and asked the victim for $5.”

The victim told Barry that she did not have any cash.

“And the defendant stood up, approached the victim and asked the victim to give her a lift,” Mr Fox said.

“The victim again declined, stating she had to go to the dental practice.

“At this point, the defendant punched the victim in the mouth with her right fist.”

Mr Fox said Barry then yelled at the victim, calling her “a lying c---” and told her not to call the police.

Mr Fox said the attack on the victim was unprovoked and Barry was later arrested and taken to the police station, but she was too intoxicated to be questioned.

“The victim did suffer some pain and suffering, but thankfully no ongoing injuries.”

In relation to Barry’s criminal history, Mr Fox said it was “considerable.”

He said most relevantly, in April last year she was sentenced to nine months’ jail with immediate parole for common assault.

“Similar to the offence before the court today, that offence was committed against another random member of the public,” Mr Fox said.

Mr Fox said prior to that offence, Barry had received a 15-month jail sentence for assault occasioning bodily harm.

“She has received numerous, continuous and repeated periods of imprisonment for public nuisance, and similarly Your Honour, her history in relation to violence is very serious and very recent.”

Mr Fox said Barry was under a parole order when she committed these offences.

Solicitor Brendan Gimbert said Barry resided in Rockhampton and sometimes Woorabinda, having completed school to Year 11.

Mr Gimbert said Barry did not complete school because she fell pregnant at 16 and had her second child a short time after.

Mr Gimbert said this offending happened about two weeks after Barry was released from prison.

He said immediately after Barry punched the victim, she realised she was in the wrong and had apologised to her.

Before handing down sentence, Magistrate Cameron Press noted Barry’s criminal history and said it was “clear” that her offending was alcohol-fuelled.

“This woman (victim) here, she didn’t do a thing to you. And you just punched her to the mouth...” Mr Press said.

“You just can’t go around punching members of the public because you’re angry at someone else.”

Mr Press sentenced Barry to nine months’ jail, to be suspended after she serves three months, for an operational period of 12 months.

Originally published as Andrina Romona Barry jailed for punching a woman in a random attack at Yeppoon