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Young jockey assaults mentor, fractures bones

Though an apprentice jockey had long suspected her ex-boyfriend was romantically involved with her mentor, confirmation of the fling sent her into a violent rage.

Australia's Court System

A JILTED lover was placed on probation after she punched her former boyfriend’s new partner in the face, fracturing her nose and eye socket.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard yesterday that apprentice jockey Sophie Rebecca Wilcock suspected her ex-boyfriend was involved with another female jockey that she described as a “mentor, big sister and best friend.”

Police prosecutor Leea Trewin said Wilcock went to an address in Adelaide St at Cranley on November 17, 2019 to confront the pair.

“The victim has gone out to the front yard to talk to (Wilcock) and there has been a short conversation between the two that mostly involved (Wilcock) yelling at the victim,” she said.

The court heard Wilcock lost her temper and punched the victim in the face.

The blow caused a haematoma, a displaced nasal bone fracture and an inferior blowout fracture to the left eye socket.

Ms Trewin said Wilcock fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Acting for the defence, solicitor Nick Smith said his client did not go to the address with intention of causing harm.

“She lost control and threw one punch,” he said.

Mr Smith tendered several glowing references for his client, including from her former employer stating that she had left the racing industry.

He said this was the only time Wilcock had run afoul of the law and that she had attempted a private mediation with her victim, prior to entering her guilty plea.

Magistrate Kay Ryan said she would to balance Wilcock’s early plea, her remorse and her lack of criminal history with the seriousness of the assault.

“One punch can kill,” she said.

Ms Ryan placed Wilcock on a nine-month probation order with no conviction recorded.

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/young-jockey-assaults-mentor-fractures-bones/news-story/2388e6f92d7ad502515801e5ffe9d5c9