Melissa McGauley, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally causing injury in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday, appearing via video link from the Tarrengower Prison.

The court heard McGauley did not recall the incident because of the amount of alcohol and pills she had consumed.

Prosecuting, Leading Senior Constable Mark Snell said McGauley was drinking at the victim’s Maryborough house in the early hours of April 2 last year.

Leading Senior Constable Snell said the pair started arguing when the victim called McGauley out for verbally abusing her 12-year-old son.

“The accused punched the victim with a closed fist to the right eye,” he said.

“She punched the victim to the nose and the face four or five times and also scratched her face.

“The victim did not retaliate and kept asking her to leave.”

Leading Senior Constable Snell said the accused kept up the attack, even when the victim fled to her four-year-old daughter’s room, concerned for both of their safety. “The accused again punched the victim to the face and headbutted her,” he said.

Magistrate William Gibb slammed the “disgraceful behaviour”.

“It was done in the presence and hearing of three children,” he said.

“It seems your client has little thought of the impact she has on her child.

“She has an appalling history of violence.” McGauley’s defence counsel Garry Quinn said there had been a number of incidents involving his client last year and she was currently serving a sentence at Tarrengower with an expected release date of June 2.

Mr Quinn said McGauley had been drug free during her incarceration and had made some positive steps.

Mr Gibb sentenced McGauley to six months’ jail to be served concurrently with her current sentence, pushing her release date back about two months.