Vanessa Jacobs Fennell: Sydney socialite crashed Range Rover, assaulted police officer

A Sydney socialite who crashed her Range Rover, refused a breath test and then assaulted a police officer had started taking antidepressants just days prior to the incident, a court has been told.

Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, 55, refused a breath test and then crashed her luxury Range Rover into a parked Tesla before assaulting a police officer in Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s east on March 21.

It is understood bystanders had called police shortly after Fennell was stopped by a good Samaritan who informed her that her car was damaged and had two flat tyres.

She was then uncooperative when police arrived, police allege.

She was charged with refusing to submit to breath analysis, assault police officer in the execution of duty, not give particulars to owner of damaged property, and negligent driving.

Fennell – who was previously short-listed to appear on the second season of controversial reality show Real Housewives of Sydney in 2023 – pleaded guilty to all four charges.

She looked glamorous as she attended Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, sporting a brown trench coat and heeled boots.

The 55-year-old was listed for sentencing, however, her matter was again delayed, and submissions by both the prosecution and Fennell’s lawyer Helen Christinson were instead heard.

She is seeking to have the matters dealt with under mental health provisions of the law, or a section 14 application.

In the defence’s submissions the court was told Fennell had experienced “some stresses” towards the end of last year, as well as experienced dissociation and in general had “difficulty coping”.

She was prescribed antidepressants just three days prior to the incident, the defence said, which had caused “adverse reactions and confusion”, as well as contributed to “increased intoxication”.

“The recent stresses, her mental health, the commencement of medication and alcohol combined leads to this egregious decision making which is highly uncharacteristic for this woman,” they said.

While they concede it was “extraordinary conduct”, the defence reminded the court it was the first offending of this kind and the socialite had no prior criminal history.

However, the prosecution argued the “serious” offences should be dealt with according to the law via either a conditional release order or a community corrections order while incorporating an ongoing treatment plan.

This would give the community “greater comfort”, they argued.

The mother of two was previously married to private equity investor Tom Fennell, with reports the couple called it quits about five years ago.

She’s also regularly been snapped at charity luncheons and events across the Harbour City.

She will next appear in court on August 25.

Her bail is to continue.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.