3 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Shock twist for socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell who went on a drunken rampage in her Range Rover after a boozed-up lunch - before assaulting a cop in a ritzy suburb
A Sydney socialite who assaulted a police officer after crashing her Range Rover into a parked Tesla has pleaded guilty to a string of charges.
Vanessa Jacobs Fennell has 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 54-year-old formally entered the pleas at Waverley Local Court late last month but is still seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions of the law.
Jacobs Fennell was arrested at Bellevue Hill in Sydney's eastern suburbs after crashing her Range Rover on Riddell Street on March 21.
The mother-of-two, who was once in the running to be in reality TV show Real Housewives of Sydney, spent a night in a police cell after her run-in with the law.
Video obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed Jacobs Fennell immediately after the incident as bystanders tried to persuade her to get out the car.
She smiled broadly from the driver's seat as witnesses tried to undo her seatbelt and get her to leave the car for someone else to park.
The charity maven and a group of Scots College mums were seen enjoying drinks at Double Bay restaurant Tanuki on the afternoon of the crash, before some of them headed across the road to martini bar Bobbie's.
Jacobs 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.
Her recent break-up with prominent Melbourne businessman Nathan Sable has also added to her mental health issues, it is understood.
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, Jacobs Fennell was married to private equity banker Tom Fennell, who lives very close to the crash site where she was arrested.
Jacobs Fennell made her first appearance at Waverley Local Court on April 1 when she entered not guilty pleas to three charges.
On that occasion, she was dressed in a black suit, oversized $830 Louis Vuitton sunglasses and an $8,500 Cartier watch as she carried a $8,600-plus Fendi handbag.
The negligent driving charge was added on May 20 when Jacobs Fennell changed her earlier not guilty pleas to guilty.
Court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia state Jacobs Fennell allegedly failed to give her required particulars 'within the required time' to the driver of the other car.
She is also alleged to have assaulted a male constable during the execution of his duty.
Jacobs Fennell was described as 'a charity fundraiser who has been on committees for Sydney Children's Hospital and Murdoch Children's Research Institute'.
She is due to appear in court on June 23 when she will apply to have the charges dealt with under Section 14 of the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act.
