Geraldton grandmother Rickisha Jane Dann admits to slapping school staff member in dispute over missing child

A Geraldton grandmother has admitted her role in an “atrocious” assault on a local primary school staff member that resulted in a woman having clumps of hair torn out. Rickisha Jane Dann appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to common assault and not guilty to acting in a disorderly manner in public. Prosecuting Sgt Dean Solman told the court on Thursday that the 48-year-old and her daughter Michaela Elaine Coralie Dann had arrived at Rangeway Primary School about 2.45pm on February 4 to pick up a five-year-old child. They spent about 45 minutes looking for him before it was discovered he had mistakenly been put on a bus, with the child immediately returned to his mother and grandmother. Sgt Solman said Rickisha Dann then confronted a staff member over the incident and slapped the 57-year-old woman across the face with an “open hand”. The victim tried to walk away from the scene but the grandmother blocked her path and witnesses were forced to intervene. Sgt Solman said the victim had clumps of hair torn from her head during the incident, which Michaela Dann was also charged over. The incident was captured on CCTV, with Rickisha Dann telling the court that she had not realised children were still on school grounds at the time. Magistrate Angus Hockton asked if Rickisha Dann had provided a letter of apology to the school and victim. The grandmother said that she had not. “Are you serious that I should be the one to apologise? He was abducted . . . I am still emotionally dealing with that,” Rickisha Dann said. Mr Hockton recognised the distress caused by losing a child but said it was no excuse for her “atrocious” behaviour. Defence counsel Xavier Sellathambu said remediation efforts between the Dann women and the school were being managed by a third party, requesting that sentencing be delayed until the end of the process. Mr Hockton said he saw little evidence of “remorse, regret or sympathy” from Rickisha Dann but agreed to adjourn the matter to next month. Michaela Dann is yet to enter pleas and will appear in court next month.