Tienna Thorne: Young mother who cut sister’s face and assaulted four police officers referred to court program

A young Geraldton mother who scratched and spat at four police officers, and attacked her sister with a pocketknife, has been referred to a program to address her violent offending before being sentenced. Tienna Shirley Joanne Thorne, 20, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to assaulting four police officers who attended her house following a mental health episode. Police prosecutor Sgt Ross Gray told the court officers were taking her away under the Mental Health Act when she scratched and spat at them in May last year. Later in October, the court was told Thorne attacked her sister at their home, which included using a pocketknife to cut her face and neck and getting on top of her and attempting to scratch her eyes with her fingernails. The prosecutor said the sister ended up “bleeding profusely” and required medical treatment. Defence counsel George Giudice said Thorne’s family was not aware she was in a troubled and violent relationship, and she was at a time in her life where she felt “very unsure about herself” having become a mother for the first time. He said her partner would accuse her of cheating if she was out of the house for too long, and made her pick up drugs for him. Magistrate Kelly Thompson said she was concerned about the violence, noting she had outstanding treatment needs. The matter was adjourned, and Thorne was referred to a fortnightly program designed to address the cause of her violent offending. She will be sentenced on three counts of assault public officer, obstructing public officers and unlawful wounding at her next appearance on Thursday, February 20. Bail was extended on conditions not to consume drugs or alcohol. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)