A WOMAN who "lost control" and repeatedly punched another woman in the head has avoided conviction.
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The 21-year-old appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court last week where she pleaded guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and theft.
The court heard on October 14, 2019, the victim went to the 21-year-old's house after accusing her of stealing her phone.
A scuffle broke out between the pair and the offender pushed the victim onto the ground.
The woman held the victim down with her body and repeatedly punched her in the head.
Two witnesses eventually separated the pair. The victim had a significant cut to her head and scratches on her body.
Paramedics were driving past the scene at the time of the altercation and stopped to provide assistance. The victim was taken to hospital for her injuries.
The 21-year-old woman admitted to the assault during her police interview. She told officers that she had "lost control" and "all (she) saw was blood".
Two days later, the woman was caught stealing food from a grocery store in Sunshine, in Melbourne's west.
She was arrested a week later and made a no-comment interview to the police.
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The woman's defence lawyer told the court the woman had been fleeing an abusive relationship at the time of the offending.
The lawyer said the 21-year-old had been unsupported and was only now receiving help from agencies.
The lawyer submitted a lengthy good behaviour bond would be an appropriate sentence, as the woman had stayed out of trouble in the past two years.
Magistrate Russell Kelly said he accepted the woman had been going through challenging circumstances in 2019.
But he told the 21-year-old that if the same situation happened again, walking away or calling the police would be the "smart thing" to do.
The woman was given a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.
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