Toowoomba woman ordered to pay for damages to car, sign

A fight between two 12-year-old girls provoked the mother of one to attack the aunt of the second, outside a Wilsonton shopping centre.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard yesterday that the victim was parked at a bakery on the corner of Tor St and Holberton St, on April 29.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton said the aunt was sitting in her car when Amanda Jane Lanigan, 39, approached on foot, picked up a barber shop sign and threw it at her.

“It damaged the bonnet and front spoiler, and the sign was also damaged,” she said.

“The victim told police that the (Lanigan) was drunk, she could smell it and she told the defendant to go home.”

In response Lanigan spat on the victim’s neck.

“She could feel the spit running down her neck,” Ms Wheaton said.

It took the intervention of barber shop staff to stop the disturbance, before Lanigan fled on foot.

Acting for Lanigan’s defence, solicitor Joe McConnell said his client had a long-running alcohol problem that contributed to her offending.

He added that Lanigan’s daughter and the victim’s niece had a falling out that provided the motivation for the assault.

“Ironically, they are now on good terms and the niece often visits at (Lanigan’s) home,” Mr McConnell said.

Lanigan pleaded guilty to two counts of wilful damage and one of common assault.

Magistrate Howard Osborne sentenced her to 12 months on probation and ordered she pay $150 restitution for the damaged barber shop sign and $600 to Suncorp Insurance for the car damages.