A West Wollongong woman sentenced in court last month for approaching a child outside Figtree Public School during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and hugging her under the guise of being a registered nurse has fronted court on fresh charges of property damage and intimidation.
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Kaila Pike had been on the community corrections order for the Figtree incident for less than six weeks when she caused damage to a vehicle at an address in Balgownie and verbally abused the female owner - a serving police officer - on Thursday morning.
Further details of what allegedly occurred during the incident were not revealed during a brief mention of the matter in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.
A handcuffed Pike appeared via videolink from the cells below the courthouse, initially sitting quietly as her lawyer spoke on her behalf.
However she became increasingly agitated and erratic as the proceedings continued, swearing loudly and hitting the video unit.
Police labelled the incident "disturbing", noting Pike allegedly threatened to kill the police officer at one stage.
They said the officer was left in fear for her safety after Pike allegedly "attacked" her vehicle while she was seated inside.
Magistrate Robert Walker ordered that Pike remain in custody without bail until mental health authorities could put a plan in place to monitor the 27-year-old on release.
"If I release her she's just going to be back here in a few days," he said, noting Pike had only recently been sentenced for her behaviour at Figtree.
In that incident, Pike arrived at the school on the morning of Ortober 7 wearing blue surgical scrubs, a stethoscope around her neck, but no face mask and approached and hugged a seven-year-old girl, who was vulnerable to COVID-19.
When confronted by a staff member, Pike said, "I'm the new school nurse".
Police were contacted and spoke to the principal.
Meanwhile, Pike returned to the school that afternoon, this time with a stethoscope tucked into the front of her pants.
A witness, who was aware of the earlier incident, saw Pike carrying a multi-coloured bag, wearing a tan-coloured shirt and dark-coloured NSW Health pants.
Pike told another person that she had hugged the student earlier in the day before police were called.
Pike, who was still not wearing a face mask, was arrested outside of Tyre Power a short time later.
She admitted to taking crystal methylamphetamine and a large amount of cannabis in the 48 hours before the bizarre incident.
Pike was charged with common assault, not complying with COVID-19 directions and purporting to be a registered health practitioner, to which she later pleaded guilty.
In sentencing Pike at the time, Magistrate Claire Girotto noted her actions were potentially dangerous and said she appeared "deluded".
Pike will return to court on the fresh charges on December 7.
Read more court and crime stories here.
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