Queenstown District Court

A QUEENSTOWN woman who got into a catfight with her former flatmate six months ago did not manage to convince a judge she should be discharged without conviction.

Jordan Gledhill (26), entertainer, had earlier admitted assaulting Nikki Wolvekamp on April 10 in Queenstown.

In the Queenstown District Court on Tuesday Judge Bernadette Farnan said the pair were flatmates at the time, but there had been ‘‘issues’’ between them and a ‘‘lengthy period of provocation’’ from the victim.

About 3.45am they were both drinking in the Queenstown CBD when a ‘‘heated’’ verbal argument started and they had to be separated by friends.

Ms Wolvekamp returned home and Gledhill followed.

The verbal argument resumed before Gledhill walked up to the victim, grabbed her, pulled her to the couch, pulled her hair and then hit her in the face ‘‘several times’’.

Other flatmates separated the pair but more words were exchanged.

Gledhill then pulled Wolvekamp to the ground, hit her and scratched her face.

The victim had scratches and bruises around her left eye but declined medical treatment at the time.

Gledhill told police she was quite drunk at the time, got angry and it was the ‘‘last straw’’.

Judge Farnan found the offending to be moderate — despite the history between the pair, ‘‘you could have walked away’’, she said.

‘‘In respect of the second part of your actions . . . you certainly did not need to continue on with your assaultive behaviour.’’

Lawyer Joseph Mooney said along with the general stigma of the conviction, there was also a risk Gledhill would not be permitted to enter Japan where she planned to teach English as a second language.

The police did not consider diversion was an option because her offending was deemed by them to be too serious.

Further, they contended Gledhill showed a lack of remorse and were opposed to the discharge application.

‘‘[They submit] you are simply victimblaming and you provided a watereddown version of the facts to assist with your application for a discharge.’’

She accepted that, to a degree, but said a third party’s statement had provided some ‘‘objectivity’’.

Ultimately Judge Farnan found there were no ‘‘real potential consequences’’ for Gledhill and any overseas jurisdiction would likely be made aware of the level of charge and deal with it ‘‘appropriately’’.

She entered the conviction and ordered Gledhill make a $750 emotional harm reparation payment.