Latest news with #VanessaJacobsFennell
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Society maven's plea to court after she crashed her Range Rover into a Tesla - before SMILING, assaulting a cop and refusing to take a breath test
A Sydney socialite who assaulted a police officer after crashing her Range Rover into a parked Tesla has told a court her struggling mental health was to blame. Waverley Local Court heard that Vanessa Jacobs Fennell is preparing a mental health application, likely under Section 14, which allows an accused to avoid punishment on mental health grounds. Dressed in a tan-coloured suit and coat, and carrying a Hermès handbag, the 55-year-old smiled brightly as she arrived at court flanked by her lawyer. Inside, she stared down journalists angrily in the courtroom, despite arriving as if she were walking down a catwalk. A psychologist's report was among the submissions into the court hearing which said Fennell suffered from significant 'stresses' in her life, including the loss of two children. According to her lawyer, on the day of the incident, Fennell had an adverse reaction to prescribed antidepressants which increased intoxication and caused dissociation. She previously admitted negligent driving, assaulting police, refusing to submit to a breath test and failing to give her particulars to the owner of damaged property. The mum-of-two, who was once in the running to appear on the reality TV show Real Housewives of Sydney, spent a night in a police cell following her run-in with the law. Magistrate Kirk Dailly adjourned the matter for sentencing on August 25. Video footage obtained by the Daily Mail showed Jacobs Fennell immediately after the incident in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east on March 21 as bystanders tried to persuade her to get out of the car. She smiled and appeared to laugh in the driver's seat as witnesses tried to undo her seatbelt and get her to leave the car for someone else to park. The socialite had not yet been cuffed as police escorted her and, at one point, she appeared to try to free her arm from an officer's grip and then slap the officer. The footage of her arrest then showed two officers frogmarching her from the scene. Fennell was seen enjoying drinks at Double Bay restaurant Tanuki with a group of Scots College mums on the afternoon of the crash, before some of them headed across the road to martini bar Bobbie's. Fennell has told friends the driving incident was brought about by drinking two glasses of rosé while she had the antidepressant Celapram in her system, triggering her 'out of character' behaviour. She is understood to suffer from depression and recurring nightmares following the death of a baby daughter. Ms Jacobs Fennell was married to private equity banker Tom Fennell, who lives very close to the crash site where she was arrested Her recent break-up with prominent Melbourne businessman Nathan Sable has also reportedly added to her mental health issues. The pair are believed to have been a couple until a few weeks before Valentine's Day when things suddenly cooled. Before dating Mr Sable, Fennell was married to private equity banker Tom Fennell, who lives very close to the crash site where she was arrested.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Sydney socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell crashed Range Rover, assaulted police officer
A Sydney socialite who crashed her Range Rover, refused a breath test and then assaulted a police officer had started taking antidepressants just days prior to the incident, a court has been told. Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 55, refused a breath test and then crashed her luxury Range Rover into a parked Tesla before assaulting a police officer in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east on March 21. It is understood bystanders had called police shortly after Fennell was stopped by a good Samaritan who informed her that her car was damaged and had two flat tyres. She was then uncooperative when police arrived, police allege. She was charged with refusing to submit to breath analysis, assault police officer in the execution of duty, not give particulars to owner of damaged property, and negligent driving. Fennell – who was previously short-listed to appear on the second season of controversial reality show Real Housewives of Sydney in 2023 – pleaded guilty to all four charges. She looked glamorous as she attended Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, sporting a brown trench coat and heeled boots. The 55-year-old was listed for sentencing, however, her matter was again delayed, and submissions by both the prosecution and Fennell's lawyer Helen Christinson were instead heard. She is seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions of the law, or a section 14 application. In the defence's submissions the court was told Fennell had experienced 'some stresses' towards the end of last year, as well as experienced dissociation and in general had 'difficulty coping'. She was prescribed antidepressants just three days prior to the incident, the defence said, which had caused 'adverse reactions and confusion', as well as contributed to 'increased intoxication'. 'The recent stresses, her mental health, the commencement of medication and alcohol combined leads to this egregious decision making which is highly uncharacteristic for this woman,' they said. While they concede it was 'extraordinary conduct', the defence reminded the court it was the first offending of this kind and the socialite had no prior criminal history. However, the prosecution argued the 'serious' offences should be dealt with according to the law via either a conditional release order or a community corrections order while incorporating an ongoing treatment plan. This would give the community 'greater comfort', they argued. The mother of two was previously married to private equity investor Tom Fennell, with reports the couple called it quits about five years ago. She's also regularly been snapped at charity luncheons and events across the Harbour City. She will next appear in court on August 25. Her bail is to continue. Originally published as Sydney socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell crashed Range Rover, assaulted police officer
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Update after socialite crashed Range Rover
A Sydney socialite who crashed her Range Rover, refused a breath test and then assaulted a police officer had started taking antidepressants just days prior to the incident, a court has been told. Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 55, refused a breath test and then crashed her luxury Range Rover into a parked Tesla before assaulting a police officer in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east on March 21. It is understood bystanders had called police shortly after Fennell was stopped by a good Samaritan who informed her that her car was damaged and had two flat tyres. Vanessa Jacobs Fennell has again appeared in court after crashing her Range Rover in Bellevue Hill. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia She was then uncooperative when police arrived, police allege. She was charged with refusing to submit to breath analysis, assault police officer in the execution of duty, not give particulars to owner of damaged property, and negligent driving. Fennell – who was previously short-listed to appear on the second season of controversial reality show Real Housewives of Sydney in 2023 – pleaded guilty to all four charges. She looked glamorous as she attended Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, sporting a brown trench coat and heeled boots. The 55-year-old was listed for sentencing, however, her matter was again delayed, and submissions by both the prosecution and Fennell's lawyer Helen Christinson were instead heard. Vanessa Jacobs' lawyer Helen Christinson at Waverley Court. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia She is seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions of the law, or a section 14 application. In the defence's submissions the court was told Fennell had experienced 'some stresses' towards the end of last year, as well as experienced dissociation and in general had 'difficulty coping'. She was prescribed antidepressants just three days prior to the incident, the defence said, which had caused 'adverse reactions and confusion', as well as contributed to 'increased intoxication'. 'The recent stresses, her mental health, the commencement of medication and alcohol combined leads to this egregious decision making which is highly uncharacteristic for this woman,' they said. While they concede it was 'extraordinary conduct', the defence reminded the court it was the first offending of this kind and the socialite had no prior criminal history. However, the prosecution argued the 'serious' offences should be dealt with according to the law via either a conditional release order or a community corrections order while incorporating an ongoing treatment plan. This would give the community 'greater comfort', they argued. The mother of two was previously married to private equity investor Tom Fennell, with reports the couple called it quits about five years ago. She's also regularly been snapped at charity luncheons and events across the Harbour City. She will next appear in court on August 25. Her bail is to continue. Lifeline: 13 11 14.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Sydney socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell crashed Range Rover, assaulted police officer
A Sydney socialite who crashed her Range Rover, refused a breath test and then assaulted a police officer had started taking antidepressants just days prior to the incident, a court has been told. Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 55, refused a breath test and then crashed her luxury Range Rover into a parked Tesla before assaulting a police officer in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east on March 21. It is understood bystanders had called police shortly after Fennell was stopped by a good Samaritan who informed her that her car was damaged and had two flat tyres. She was then uncooperative when police arrived, police allege. She was charged with refusing to submit to breath analysis, assault police officer in the execution of duty, not give particulars to owner of damaged property, and negligent driving. Fennell – who was previously short-listed to appear on the second season of controversial reality show Real Housewives of Sydney in 2023 – pleaded guilty to all four charges. She looked glamorous as she attended Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, sporting a brown trench coat and heeled boots. The 55-year-old was listed for sentencing, however, her matter was again delayed, and submissions by both the prosecution and Fennell's lawyer Helen Christinson were instead heard. She is seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions of the law, or a section 14 application. In the defence's submissions the court was told Fennell had experienced 'some stresses' towards the end of last year, as well as experienced dissociation and in general had 'difficulty coping'. She was prescribed antidepressants just three days prior to the incident, the defence said, which had caused 'adverse reactions and confusion', as well as contributed to 'increased intoxication'. 'The recent stresses, her mental health, the commencement of medication and alcohol combined leads to this egregious decision making which is highly uncharacteristic for this woman,' they said. While they concede it was 'extraordinary conduct', the defence reminded the court it was the first offending of this kind and the socialite had no prior criminal history. However, the prosecution argued the 'serious' offences should be dealt with according to the law via either a conditional release order or a community corrections order while incorporating an ongoing treatment plan. This would give the community 'greater comfort', they argued. The mother of two was previously married to private equity investor Tom Fennell, with reports the couple called it quits about five years ago. She's also regularly been snapped at charity luncheons and events across the Harbour City. She will next appear in court on August 25. Her bail is to continue.
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- 7NEWS
‘At least I didn't kill anyone': Socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell's comment after car crash and alleged assault revealed in court
An alleged drunk-driving Sydney socialite who is accused of assaulting a police officer after crashing her luxury Range Rover into a Tesla reportedly said 'at least I didn't kill anyone,' court documents have revealed. The case of Vanessa Jacobs Fennell returned to court on Monday, months after her arrest in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east on March 21. The 54-year-old was charged with refusing to submit to breath analysis, assaulting police in the execution of duty, and failing to provide details to the owners of damaged property. Fennell allegedly crashed her Range Rover SUV into several parked cars on Riddell St before a good Samaritan reminded her that the vehicle had two flat tyres and was badly damaged. When police arrived, the mother-of-two was allegedly 'uncooperative' and denied being behind the wheel of the car. Police allege her roadside breath test returned a positive result and she became 'agitated' when they tried to arrest her. She allegedly slapped a police officer and laughed about it, court documents revealed. 'She showed no remorse for her actions,' police said. Court documents also stated she then said: 'Well, at least I didn't kill anyone.' Fennell pleaded guilty in May to all four charges but is seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions. She is due to appear at Waverley Local Court again on August 12. Fennell, who was once shortlisted to be on the Real Housewives of Sydney, was married to private banker Tom Fennell but the couple split about five years ago.
