A woman has been fined over a string of charges which included assaulting a police officer when she appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 12.
Angela Clinch, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching bail, assaulting a police officer, carrying an article with intent to cause fear, disorderly behaviour in a police lock-up, disorderly behaviour in public, gaining benefits via fraud, and giving false details to police.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Barry Phelps told the court Clinch and a male assailant had been refused service at Condellos Liquor, Withers at 9.20pm on October 27, 2016.
After police arrived, Clinch held spiked sticks to her wrists and threatened self harm.
While being arrested, she swore at police before kicking her leg out and hitting an officer in the head.
On December 11, 2016, Clinch used a stolen credit card to buy a bottle of water and a packet of cigarettes in Highgate. At the time, she had known the card had previously been stolen.
Clinch breached her bail conditions by failing to come to court on February 16, 2017.
Clinch had been stopped by police and provided false details to officers in Waroona on April 11, 2018.
Defence lawyer Viv Blurton said his client was 19 during the first incident and had been drinking heavily at the time.
Discussing her willingness to change and undergo rehabilitation, Blurton said his client had not had a drink since April 2017.
“When she drinks, stupid things happen,” he said.
Magistrate Brian Mahon, although taking her pleas and personal issues into account, was disappointed in Clinch for her actions.
He said she was lucky police saw the assault as a “reckless kick”. Handing down fines, Mahon said he hoped Clinch had learned her lesson and was willing to pay off the fines.
Clinch was handed a $4600 fine and $777 in costs. Mahon noted the kick would likely have landed Clinch in jail if she was older and had a more extensive criminal record.