An Esperance woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for assaulting her sleeping niece.
Beverly Deworboies, 50, was sentenced to eight months in prison but was granted a 10-month suspended period with supervision.
In December last year Deworboies kicked the victim several times, resulting in a fractured jaw and lacerations to the cheek, which required 10 stitches.
At the time of the arrest, Deworboies said “she was with my mans and needed to be taught a lesson.”
Deworboies’ lawyer told the court her partner had been having a relationship with the victim so she felt betrayed.
The defence lawyer said from Deworboies grew up in foster care and started taking illicit substances at the age of 11.
She said her life had been “chaotic and traumatic” and that she would like to go into rehab to deal with her trauma.
Magistrate Lyons said kicking a sleeping person in the face is a “low act” and said it would have been frightening and painful to be woken up in such a way.
