Stephanie Sonya Utakea: Nerang mum of four put on probation after stabbing attempt on partner

A Gold Coast woman has pleaded guilty to 22 offences, most seriously chasing her then-partner down the street while armed with a knife, and attempting to stab him in the head.

Stephanie Sonya Utakea, 41. Picture: Facebook

A Gold Coast woman has pleaded guilty to 22 offences, most seriously chasing her then-partner down the street while armed with a knife, and attempting to stab him in the head.

Nerang mother-of-four Stephanie Sonya Utakea, 41, appeared via audiovisual link from custody in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 6, where she pleaded guilty to 22 charges.

They included, most seriously, domestic violence offences of common assault and going armed so as to cause fear, as well as unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and four counts of failing to appear.

Other offences included possessing dangerous drugs, contravening a direction or requirement of police, breach of bail, and various traffic matters.

The domestic violence offending occurred on April 25, 2016 at Ashmore.

Stephanie Sonya Utakea, 41. Picture: Facebook

Utakea and her partner were warring when the man began throwing her possessions out the window, to which the defendant responded by arming herself with a boning knife from a kitchen drawer, the court heard.

He fled the residence and down the street, with Utakea in hot pursuit.

When she caught up with him, she placed an arm around his neck and attempted to stab him in the head.

“There could have been significant harm to the victim,” police prosecutor Corey Cook said.

She told arresting officers she was acting in retaliation for the “control and violence” he had subjected her to during the course of her relationship.

The unlawful use of a motor vehicle, committed on August 19, 2016 at Palm Beach, related to her failure to return a rental vehicle at the nominated time.

Mr Cook told the court the reason for the inordinate delay in bringing the charges to conclusion was because Utakea failed to appear for various listed court dates, and also moved herself to New South Wales with a partner (not the one whom she was domestically violent towards).

She had spent 85 days in pre-sentence custody.

Defence lawyer Amelia Khoo told the court her client, who is in receipt of government benefits but previously had a reasonable work history, including at the Gold Coast Turf Club, had a prejudicial upbringing and left school in year 9.

“She has been in domestically violent relationships throughout her life,” Ms Khoo said.

Upon her release from custody, she would reside with an aunt and uncle at Southport and wished to re-enter the workforce.

Magistrate Nerida Wilson sentenced her to 12 months’ probation, taking into account Utakea’s time spent on remand.

“This is your last chance,” she said.

“At 41 years of age, the court runs out of options.”

Originally published as Stephanie Sonya Utakea: Nerang mum of four put on probation after stabbing attempt on partner