The behaviour of a Dubbo woman who violently assaulted a seven-month pregnant woman in her home, has been labelled by a magistrate as "inexcusable".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Karina Judith Hicks, 33, had been out the front of a property arguing with her boyfriend before getting into her vehicle and listening to music on September 11 this year.
According to police, Hicks began verbally abusing a woman who was sitting in her home office at the front of a house, because she thought she was staring at her.
The woman opened her screen door and asked Hicks what her problem was, when Hicks entered the front yard of the home.
READ ALSO:
Hicks - ignoring requests of the woman not to enter her property - stood in front of the woman and verbally abused her threatening to call police.
The woman's partner heard the commotion and walked out to see what was happening. He saw Hicks and pushed her shoulders to move her away from his partner.
Hicks threw a cigarette lighter at the man before attempting to punch him in the face, which police said he narrowly missed.
The man pushed Hicks away and asked her to leave their property, when the woman ushered her partner back inside to de-escalate the situation.
The woman - who was seven months pregnant at the time - thought Hicks was walking away and turned to go inside when Hicks grabbed her by the hair, spun her around, pushed her to the ground and slammed her head into the ground while still holding her hair.
Police said as a result the woman suffered from grazes to her lip, nose and forehead "as a result of being slammed into the ground".
The man turned and saw Hicks on top of the woman, and grabbed Hicks' arm to pull her away. However Hicks' grip on the woman's hair was so tight, he had to twist her harm to release her grip which police said he was successful in achieving.
The man pinned Hicks on the ground to allow his partner to escape. He then let her go when she attempted to punch him again, but missed.
Hicks was pushed away by the man, and fell over hitting her head on the ground. He grabbed her wrist and walked her down the driveway when he let go and she walked away from the property.
Police arrived and arrested Hicks - who was still verbally abusing everyone. She was escorted to a caged police vehicle and taken to Dubbo Police Station.
Hicks pleaded guilty to assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.
Defence lawyer Bill Dickens said Hicks was a single mother of two, held no relevant criminal history, but herself had been a victim of violence in the past.
Mr Dickens argued his client didn't know the victim was seven months pregnant at the time, as "it was not obvious", and the assault on the man was a "swing and miss" and remained at the lower end of seriousness.
Magistrate Gary Wilson said while he took into account her early plea of guilt and almost lack of record, he said her behaviour was "inexcusable".
Hicks was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and fined $500.