Police prosecutor lashes out at ‘drunken idiots’ after a rise in late-night violence

A police prosecutor has told an Albany magistrate the community is fed up with “drunken idiots” as a young woman faced court over assaulting a police officer outside Studio 146. Sergeant Mike Russell expressed his concerns to Magistrate Raelene Johnston last week, after a series of violent incidents in Albany CBD. Georgie Anne Henden, 24, was fined $2200 in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer outside the Stirling Terrace nightclub. Sgt Russell told the court that at about 3.44am on Sunday, November 1, Henden was with her brother, boyfriend and friend in the CBD. “The accused’s friend has become involved in an altercation which a police officer has tried to separate by moving the friend to the other side of the road,” Sgt Russell said. “The accused has come behind the officer, grabbed his vest and obstructed him.” Henden then punched the officer to the head with her right fist, the court was told. As the young woman and the victim fell to the ground, the officer put his hand behind Henden’s head to protect her from the fall. “The accused has lashed out and slapped the officer on the face,” Sgt Russell told the court. Henden was eventually restrained and was apologetic after the incident. The officer received bruising and swelling to his forearm. “The officer did sustain injuries. It was not a simple push in the chest,” he said. However Ms Johnston said she could not take his comments about injuries into consideration as Henden was not charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. Sgt Russell told the court the “community is sick to death about drunken idiots” on the streets. “I accept she’s apologised to others and the police who were exposed to this behaviour but sometimes an apology is just not good enough,” he said. However Henden’s defence counsel Fintan Roberts said his client was “not a typical idiot” and she was ashamed about her “out of character” behaviour. Mr Roberts said Henden was heavily intoxicated and does not remember the assault. He asked for Henden to be granted a spent conviction to protect her career prospects in the aged care sector. Ms Johnston granted her a spent conviction.