Two people charged with separate incidents of assaulting police were sentenced in Mudgee Local Court last week, with one of the defendants - a woman who has previous offences on her record - jailed for her matter.
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Jasmin Alicia Holt, aged 40, of Short Street, Mudgee, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment with a six-month non-parole period and placed on a two-year bond for charges of 'Assault officer in execution of duty' and 'Destroy or damage property'.
At about 12pm on Friday, July 5, 2019, Holt was refused bail in Mudgee Local Court for a number of alleged drug offences.
She began shaking the dock, which broke a timber leg. As officers escorted her back to the Police Station she shoulder-barged one of them into the door jamb while exiting the courthouse.
Magistrate David Day said while the damage to the dock was "petulant", the assault of the officer had "crossed the custody threshold".
He noted previous like-offences in her history, the last as recently as 2014. "This demonstrates a pattern of behaviour towards police officers," his honour said.
Later that day a 35-year-old man was sentenced to an 18-month Intensive Corrections Order with a condition that he abstain from alcohol and complete rehabilitation and 100 hours community service, for a separate matter. Trent Harrop of Cypress Drive, Yarrawonga, was also placed on orders for charges of resisting police and contravening an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO).
At about 3.20pm on Monday, April 1, 2019, police were called to a local school for a man asleep in the grounds. They arrived to find Harrop on a bench, next to an empty wine bottle and what appeared to be vomit.
He said he was collecting his children and officers were about to take him home when one of his friends arrived and offered to do it. Soon after they became aware of the ADVO - a condition of which is that Harrop not approach the Person In Need Of Protection after consuming alcohol - and went to their residence where they found him arguing with the PINOP.
This demonstrates a pattern of behaviour towards police officers.
- Magistrate David Day
Harrop resisted arrest and during the struggle he struck an officer in the face.
Magistrate Day checked if Harrop "was here when I sentenced that lady [Holt] to jail? Because I did". And added that while he didn't have prior assault officers matters on his record, "his liking for alcohol has gotten him into a lot of trouble, which probably didn't dawn on him until he punched a police officer in the face".