Derby woman Patrina Lemon handed 12-month suspended prison sentence for spitting on disability support worker

A Derby woman has received a 12-month suspended prison sentence for spitting on and assaulting a disability support worker in Derby late last year.

Patrina Cherie Lemon was sentenced on February 13 after pleading guilty to one charge of common assault, one charge of being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear and one count of breaching bail at Broome Magistrates Court.

The court heard Lemon assaulted a disability support worker at the Derby Visitor Centre on December 7, 2022, after asking the worker for assistance.

The worker, who was with another customer at the time, tried to help Lemon with her queries before Lemon became dissatisfied with the worker and assaulted her.

Lemon spat in the disability worker’s face, which resulted in a large amount of phlegm entering the victim’s mouth and covering her face.

Lemon then threatened the worker with a broken wine bottle.

It is believed Lemon was heavily intoxicated at the time of the offence.

The victim had to undergo medical testing to ensure she had not contracted any diseases or illnesses Lemon might have had.

Magistrate Deen Potter said Lemon had caused undue stress to the victim who had just been trying to assist her.

Lemon later breached her bail conditions on January 11.

It comes after a string of offences Lemon was convicted of last year, including an assault on a public officer on October 21 in Cable Beach, an intoxicated driving offence in Djugun on July 8 and a violence restraining order breach on June 19 in Broome.

Mr Potter told Lemon she needed to improve her behaviour for her family’s wellbeing.

“The last thing the kids need is to see grandma stumbling around drunk and getting into trouble,” he said.

Lemon then apologised to the magistrate for her behaviour.

Mr Potter sentenced Lemon to a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered her to pay more than $1100 in fines and court costs.