A 28-year-old woman appeared in court on Saturday after police allegedly witnessed her assaulting an 81-year-old woman with dementia at a home at Thirroul.
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Alicia Gawronski is a legal guardian and full-time carer for the alleged victim, and according to police documents has been residing with the woman for several months.
Police attended the Station Street home about 10.45pm on Friday after receiving a call from a concerned neighbour.
Police said they heard moaning, shouting and about 11 slapping noises coming from inside the home’s bathroom when they arrived. They also claim they heard Gawronski say to the woman, “do it again, I dare ya”.
The woman said, “I didn't do nothing”, to which Gawronski allegedly replied, “you did, you slid your ass back on the seat, don't”.
The alleged victim continued to make a moaning noise, with Gawronski again telling her to “stop sliding her ass back”, the court documents said.
Officers went to the back of the unit and saw Gawronski walking the 81-year-old woman from the bathroom through the kitchen and into the lounge room.
Police allege they saw the elderly woman fall over, before Gawronski verbally abused her and punched her in the leg.
They claim Gawronski then lifted both of the victim’s legs, causing her to fall onto her back.
When the victim said she was scared, Gawronski allegedly replied “yeah, you oughta be scared, especially where you're gunna go the nurses will beat the f**k out of you every day”.
The officers arrested Gawronski and charged her with domestic assault.
The elderly woman was conveyed to Wollongong Hospital where she was treated for bruising to her face, head and legs. She is now in alternative care.
Gawronski was granted bail in court on Saturday with conditions including that she abide by the conditions of the AVO, reside at a separate Illawarra address, is not to approach or contact the victim and not to go into any place where the victim resides.
Gawronski was already on bail to appear in court on September 6 for sentencing for damage property charges.
The latest charge will return to Wollongong Local Court on the same date.
She was also sentenced and fined this week for knife, weapon and drugs offences.
Inspector Don Faulds from Wollongong Police District said one call from the public had stopped this act.
“Attending police did a great job with the victim’s welfare until Ambulance arrived,” he said.
“To see an elderly woman treated in this way was described by attending police as disgraceful.”