Rochelle Phyllis Arends: Suspended prison term for erratically brandishing weapons near Albany primary school

An Albany woman has avoided an immediate jail term after waving weapons including a meat cleaver and a tomahawk at members of the public last month. Rochelle Phyllis Arends appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 29, for sentencing via video link from Melaleuca Women’s Prison. The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of being armed and one count of carrying an article with intent to cause fear. At 5.05pm on August 2, Arends walked on to the road near the intersection of Hardie Road and Dickson Road in Spencer Park and waved a 30cm meat cleaver, with a tomahawk in her other hand, at a motorbike rider with a young child. Police later found Arends nearby, still armed with the two weapons, and arrested her but she was later released on bail. While on bail on August 27, Arends was seen yelling and screaming while brandishing a bread knife, with no shirt on, within 50m of Spencer Park Primary School. She was seen by police to be carrying a 1.3m pole a short while later before being arrested and remanded in custody. Arends told police she was armed with the various weapons for her own protection. Aboriginal Legal Services lawyer Georgia Herford said her client suffered from drug-induced psychosis as a result of long-term drug use, resulting in blackouts and gaps in her memory. Ms Herford said her client understood the seriousness of her offences and the way her “erratic and scary behaviour” would have made the community feel. She said Arends was a long-term victim of domestic violence from family members and former partners, and had knives pulled on her prior to arming herself and blacking out. Police prosecutor Sgt Matt Hartfield said Arends’ behaviour was “appalling” and although the reasoning behind her behaviour provided an explanation, any sentence needed to be weighed with the safety of the public. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell admonished Arends for groaning during sentencing, saying to her “your attitude isn’t particularly endearing right now”. She said “the persons in the vicinity would have been terrified” as result of Arends brandishing four weapons. Ms O’Donnell took into account Arends’ early pleas of guilty and her successful compliance and completion of a previous community based order. Arends was sentenced to a 10-month term of imprisonment, suspended for 10 months. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.