Socialite Celebrates Court Victory After Avoiding Convictions for Driving and Assault Offences
A prominent Sydney socialite has emerged from court with a triumphant smile after successfully persuading a judge to quash multiple convictions stemming from a dramatic incident involving her luxury vehicle and an altercation with police officers.
The Incident and Court Proceedings
Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, a 54-year-old socialite regularly photographed at exclusive Sydney events, faced Downing Centre District Court on Monday following a series of offences committed in March last year. The mother-of-two had been seeking to have her case heard under mental health provisions, but Judge Mark Williams rejected this application while granting her significant leniency in sentencing.
Despite losing her bid to have the matters considered under Section 14 of the Mental Health Act, Jacobs Fennell convinced the court to record no formal convictions for her four offences. Instead, she received 12-month conditional release orders for each charge, which include negligent driving, assaulting a police officer, refusing to submit to a breath test, and failing to provide her particulars after the incident.
The Dramatic Afternoon Unfolds
The sequence of events began with a social gathering that afternoon in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. Jacobs Fennell had joined fellow mothers from an elite local boys' school for what developed into an extended lunch and drinks session. The group initially dined at Tanuki, a Japanese restaurant in Double Bay, before progressing to Bobbie's martini bar during its promotional "golden hour" offering discounted cocktails between 2:30pm and 4pm.
At some point afterward, Jacobs Fennell took the wheel of her black Range Rover Sport and began driving through the streets of Bellevue Hill. Witnesses reported that she was allegedly "shredding the vehicle's tyres while doing laps" before colliding with multiple parked cars, including a Tesla and two other vehicles.
Police Intervention and Arrest
Concerned onlookers helped extract Jacobs Fennell from her badly damaged luxury SUV following the collision. When police arrived at the scene, the situation escalated further. The socialite returned a positive result during a preliminary roadside breath test before physically assaulting an officer as she was being led away, reportedly slapping him during an attempt to wrest her arm free from his grip.
Following her arrest, Jacobs Fennell refused to undergo further breath analysis testing and spent that Friday night in the cells at Waverley police station. The incident marked a dramatic fall from grace for someone previously shortlisted to appear on the Real Housewives of Sydney television series.
Legal History and Appeal
Last August, Magistrate Kirk Dailly at Waverley Local Court had rejected Jacobs Fennell's initial attempt to have the charges dealt with under mental health provisions. Instead, he convicted and fined her for three offences: $1,200 for refusing to submit to breath analysis, $500 for negligent driving, and $800 for failing to provide particulars after the crash.
Magistrate Dailly did not record a conviction for the assault on police charge but imposed a 12-month conditional release order for that offence. Jacobs Fennell was also disqualified from driving for six months. Monday's hearing represented her appeal against all these outcomes, which resulted in the more favourable ruling from Judge Williams.
Personal Circumstances and Response
The court heard that Jacobs Fennell had been experiencing depression and mental health challenges following significant personal tragedies, including the deaths of children and the breakdown of a relationship prior to the incident. Formerly married to private equity banker Tom Fennell and more recently separated from prominent Melbourne businessman Nathan Sable, she maintains an active social presence in Sydney's elite circles.
Emerging from court wearing a coordinated pale yellow ensemble of linen jacket, crepe trousers, and matching stiletto pumps with her long fair hair flowing over her shoulders, Jacobs Fennell beamed with apparent satisfaction at the outcome. When questioned about the rejection of her mental health plea, she expressed contentment with the court's decision, particularly noting the inclusion of a future option for psychological treatment within the conditional orders.
In previous comments to media, Jacobs Fennell described herself as "profoundly remorseful and regretful" while maintaining that she "remained dignified" after the original court result. She has also publicly stated her belief that "every human being should be allowed to make a mistake," a perspective that appears to have found some sympathy in the judicial process despite the serious nature of her offences.
