Geraldton grandmother gets spent conviction, community order for involvement in school assault

A Geraldton grandmother who assaulted a local primary school staff member has been handed a community-based order and spent conviction.

Rickisha Jane Dann appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday for sentencing on one charge of common assault and for a trial allocation date on one charge of disorderly behaviour .

However, after speaking to her lawyer Mrs Dann entered a plea of guilty to the disorderly behaviour charge.

The court was previously told in July that the 48-year-old and her daughter Michaela Elaine Coralie Dann had arrived at Rangeway Primary School about 2.45pm on February 4 to pick up a five-year-old child.

They spent about 45 minutes looking for him before it was discovered he had mistakenly been put on a bus, with the child immediately returned to his mother and grandmother.

Police said Rickisha Dann then confronted a staff member over the incident and slapped the 57-year-old woman across the face with an “open hand”.

The victim tried to walk away from the scene but the grandmother blocked her path and witnesses were forced to intervene.

Lawyer Xavier Sellathambu said Mrs Dann was extremely agitated and concerned for the welfare of her grandson when the offending occurred.

He said that the school still has not provided her with any answers as to why her grandson was mistakenly placed on a bus.

Magistrate Tanya Watt said she understood the distress Mrs Dann and her daughter were under but that did not justify their actions.

She sentenced Mrs Dann to a 12-month community-based order for the common assault and handed a $500 suspended fine for disorderly behaviour.

For her offences, Michaela Dann was last week sentenced to a 12-month community-based order and fined $1800 but was also granted a spent conviction.