A Bellambi woman who smashed a glass vase over her partner's head during a drunken dispute has told a Wollongong court the couple remains "happy" and has since sworn off alcohol.
Violent Escalation After Night of Drinking
The incident occurred on the night of January 5, 2026, at the couple's Bellambi home. According to court documents, the pair had been consuming bourbon and beer before an argument about family matters spiralled out of control.
The situation turned violent when the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, grabbed a glass vase from a coffee table and struck her partner across the forehead. The blow caused a bleeding cut.
The victim then physically removed the woman from the house and locked her outside. When police and emergency services arrived, they found the woman out the front, where she falsely alleged the victim had choked her.
Courtroom Confession and Prior History
Officers observed the victim's injury and found multiple drops of blood and the shattered vase inside the home. The woman was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station.
Representing herself in Wollongong Local Court on January 15, the woman pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, a domestic violence offence.
She immediately addressed the court, stating, "We're happy together, it was the first incident we've had in three years. I haven't had a drink since then." She explained that the couple had made a joint decision to quit drinking following the altercation.
The court, however, heard the woman had a prior record for assaulting her partner. This prompted Magistrate Geraldine Beattie to issue a stern warning: "This has got to be the end of it."
Magistrate's Mixed Response and Sentence
While emphasising the seriousness of the domestic violence offence, Magistrate Beattie did acknowledge the couple's pledge to abstain from alcohol. "It's early days but I'm congratulating you on making that decision. It is going to be hard," Magistrate Beattie told the defendant.
The magistrate ultimately sentenced the woman to a nine-month community correction order. The case highlights the often-complex dynamics in domestic situations that come before the courts, where claims of future change are weighed against past actions.
