Lisa Richards was on a community corrections order when she hit the paramedic at a Marigold Street property on August 30, 2017.

At the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, Richards was given a choice to spend a short time in jail for the assault, or comply with her CCO for the next six months.   

The mother of two chose to defer sentence to prove she will not breach the court order again.

Defence barrister Simon Tan said his client wanted further opportunity on her CCO because she had taken steps to complete it.

He said Richards was now motivated to engage in the court order, had removed herself from an abusive relationship and was caring for her grandmother.

The court was told Richards became abusive towards paramedics when they suggested she be transported to hospital for her abdominal pains.

The paramedic said that was OK and a friend could transport her to hospital.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Simon Pearce said the accused started removing the ECG tags and blood pressure equipment saying, “Don’t go ripping shit off me”.

She then swung her right arm and struck the paramedic, causing a red mark on their forearm for several hours.

Mr Tan said mental health issues mitigated Richards’ offending.

After reading a medical report tendered to the court, magistrate Ron Saines said he could understand Richards had had a tough upbringing and her life circumstances had been a mess.

But he was not impressed Richards had wasted opportunities the court had previously given her.

“You have been given, on a number of occasions, the opportunity for non-prison sentences to provide a platform for you to do better but you have trashed most of those opportunities,” Mr Saines said.

“I am going to give you another opportunity as you have requested but it’s on the basis of seeing what you do over the next six months.

“If you don’t make better decisions then the court will consider jail.”

Mr Saines warned Richards to complete 65 hours of unpaid community work or she would go to prison.

“This is a chance for you to put your best foot forward,” he said.

Richards’ sentence was deferred to December 19 and her bail was extended to that date.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.