By Perry Duffin
An alleged drink-driving socialite who was pulled from her smashed Range Rover by shocked diners in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has fronted court and flagged a mental health defence.
Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 54, was photographed by the Herald minutes after allegedly crashing her black Range Rover into several parked cars on the evening of Friday, March 21, in Bellevue Hill.
Jacobs Fennell had allegedly driven laps of the area after drinking nearby, according to witnesses at the scene.
Police were called but Jacobs Fennell allegedly refused to provide a breath test and assaulted police as she was arrested.
The socialite fronted Waverley Local Court on Tuesday behind black sunglasses, sporting an $8000 handbag and flanked by her lawyer Helen Christinson.
The pair remained silent as photographers and news crews tried to get comment from Jacobs Fennell.
Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, a Sydney socialite, allegedly smashed her Range Rover into parked cars while drink-driving in Sydney’s east.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Christinson entered not guilty pleas to three charges – refusing to give breath analysis, assaulting police and not giving particulars to owners of damaged property.
The case will return to court on June 23 when Christinson will launch a section 14 application, which is ordinarily used to allow magistrates to dismiss charges against people with mental health issues.
Diners escort Jacobs Fennell from the vehicle.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Jacobs Fennell was released on police bail, which was continued after Tuesday’s court appearance.
Jacobs Fennell was shortlisted for a series of Real Housewives of Sydney before being excluded, reportedly over tensions with another cast member.
She was described in the gossip pages at the time as “a charity fundraiser who has been on committees for Sydney Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute” and who had been married to a private equity worker.
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