Ex-councillor sentenced for assault on elderly mother
A former member of a Sydney council who has battled stimulant addiction and mental health issues accidentally assaulted his elderly mother during a dispute over his messy bedroom.
Ex-Waverley councillor, Sam Einfeld was sentenced on Wednesday after being convicted on two counts of assault, which the court was told stemmed from his recklessness rather than intent.
He was sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court to a 12-month conditional release order for both offences.
During an incident in 2021, the now 45-year-old who was living with his mother, Evelyn Einfeld at the time, became angry when he came home to find a family friend helping to clean his room, according to court documents.
Einfeld asked the family friend, Stacey Sanderson, what she was doing to which she replied: “Your Mum asked me to clean your room”.
“You’re a grown ass man and you need to keep your stuff clean; she’s asked you to clean and you haven’t,” Ms Sanderson said, according to court documents.
In an aggressive state, Einfeld walked past his mother, with his shoulder making contact with her and causing her to fall backwards into a wall, the documents stated.
During another incident in 2022 when his mother was also present, Einfeld forced the gate of a long-time family friend’s home open after being asked to leave the premises, causing it to knock them over.
The victim of that assault, Polly Priday, is the daughter of Margot Priday, who Einfeld is still facing much more serious charges for assaulting in 2022.
During that incident, Einfeld is alleged to have chased octogenarian Margot Priday inside her home, grabbed her arm and pulled her to the floor before kicking her numerous times and treading on her hand.
Einfeld’s mother died in August, leading prosecutors to withdraw an application for an AVO against him for her protection.
Bail conditions imposed on him at the time meant Einfeld was unable to be with her when she died.
Einfeld’s lawyer Rebecca McMahon told Wednesday’s hearing his offending took place in the context of “untreated mental health and long-term substance abuse issues”.
“He has turned his life around and is very unlikely to reoffend,” she said.
“He’s now stable and has that community support network wrapped around him.
“He remains substance free.”
The alleged assault on Margot Priday is due for judgment on October 17.
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