Ablett’s tragic daughter in court for assault: ‘Devil made me do it’

By Michelle Herbison
THE DEVIL made Gary Ablett senior’s daughter assault a woman in Melbourne, a Geelong court heard this week.
“Because I believe in Jesus. It’s Lucifer,” Natasha Ablett told Geelong police as she explained the unprovoked attack, Geelong Magistrates Court heard.
Ablett, of Highton, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful assault in June and July last year.
Police Prosecutor Senior Constable Jennifer Horgan told the court Ablett assaulted a woman at Melbourne’s Southern Cross railway station.
Ablett punched the woman in the head and face while yelling “That’s my bag, give me my bag,” the court heard.
“As the victim cowered and put her hands up to defend herself, the accused grabbed hold of the victim’s left arm and continued punching and yelling at the victim,” Snr Const Horgan said.
The victim’s husband pulled Ablett away from the victim and police arrived, the court heard.
Snr Const Horgan said the incident left the woman’s head and neck swollen and bruised. She also experienced psychiatric and sleep problems.
Ablett also assaulted staff at a community rehabilitation facility when they “didn’t give me all my cigarettes and money”, the court heard.
Ablett’s defence lawyer, Shane Balkin, said she “continued to be quite unwell”, heard voices and had strong religious beliefs.
Mr Balkin said Ablett had fortnightly injections to treat schizophrenia.
She had told her lawyer and health workers she “wouldn’t mind going to jail,” Mr Balkin told the court.
“That would appear to be a cry for secure, permanent and ordered housing,” he said.
“She has been homeless for several months in the sense that she hasn’t had a permanent place of residence. This continues to be an issue.”
Mr Balkin said Ablett also wanted to return to a Ballarat mental health centre.
Ms Ablett’s case worker at Corio Community Health, Samantha Broughton, told the court from the witness box that Ablett’s desire to be jailed showed “how unwell she really is”.
“Natasha has been unwell for the whole six weeks I’ve known her,” Ms Broughton said.
Ablett had been admitted to mental health service Geelong’s Swanston Centre “a few more than 10” times since 1998, she said.
Magistrate Ron Saines fined Ablett $500.