Callan Brett, of Queensland, Shotley, handed suspended sentence after retrial for ‘unprovoked attack’ on neighbour

A woman who unleashed an ‘unprovoked attack’ on a neighbour has been handed a restraining order and suspended sentence.

Callan Brett, 35, of Queensland, Shotley, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, yesterday.

She was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm on February 21, having undergone a retrial after an appeal against a conviction for the same offences from August 30 last year.

Brett claimed self-defence, but Ipswich Crown Court heard how the defendant pushed her head against the victim’s head, grabbed her hair and shook her head before kneeing her in the groin multiple times.

Brett had approached the victim while she was unloading shopping from her car at 2.30pm on June 19, 2023, in Queensland.

The defendant told the court she only kneed her in the groin once to defend herself, but these claims were rejected by the court, who determined Brett was the aggressor.

The injuries the victim suffered were consistent with being kneed multiple times and required her to have surgery.

On November 15, 2024 – months after her first conviction – Brett was arrested for breaching her bail conditions, which prohibited her from contacting the victim.

Brett would walk past the victim’s home 10 times per day, make hand gestures and stare into her property, the court was told.

Following her second trial, Acting Sergeant Alasdair Nicol, of the Response Investigation Team, said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack which left the victim with a very nasty injury.

“I would like to commend the victim for their bravery over the past 20 months since the incident occurred. It has not been pleasant to continue living in close proximity to her attacker, as the incident where she breached her bail conditions demonstrated.

“The suspended sentence should now act as a deterrent to Brett from committing further offences, while I hope the restraining order and ultimate barring from the parish will provide some comfort to the victim.”