Nara Bettina Dwyer: Geraldton woman sentenced over Bunnings attack, pleads not guilty to glass bottle assault

A Geraldton woman who viciously attacked a 17-year-old in a Bunnings carpark has been handed a six-month order.

Nara Bettina Dwyer appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to common assault over the Bunnings attack.

She is also charged with grievous bodily harm and being armed in a way that may cause fear over a glass bottle assault near Stow Gardens to which she pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor Sgt Ross Gray said Ms Dwyer approached a 17-year-old female sitting on a retaining wall outside Bunnings on October 25 and spoke to her in a raised voice.

Dwyer snatched the victim’s phone, grabbed her hat and put pressure on her neck with the chinstrap and pulled her hair, causing the 17-year-old to fall backwards.

Defence lawyer Kate Fry said the 41-year-old woman was on solvents when she committed the offence and had a long history of substance abuse.

The court was told Dwyer had not used solvents in the two months following the attack. She is currently engaged with mental health services, a GRAMS doctor and looking into residential rehab.

Ms Fry said Dwyer expressed remorse for the 17-year-old victim and wanted the fine to be paid to her.

Magistrate Angus Hockton said the offence was serious but noted her degree of empathy for the young person.

He sentenced Dwyer to a six-month order, and she will reappear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on March 23 over the glass bottle assault charges.