Private School Mother Faces Assault Charges Following Drink-Driving Controversy
A mother from Northbridge, who gained notoriety after claiming breathalysers gave false readings due to her medical condition, has been charged with assaulting an elderly woman. Natasha Jansen, 51, was previously cleared of high-range drink-driving after arguing that a health tonic caused her blood alcohol reading to register nearly five times the legal limit.
Driving Offences and Medical Defence
Jansen pleaded guilty in February to negligent driving, failing to submit to a breath test, and driving with an illicit drug in her system. This followed an incident in August where she crashed her Mercedes-Benz on Kameruka Road in Northbridge while cannabis was present in her bloodstream. Police alleged she recorded a roadside alcohol reading of 0.304 but later refused further breath analysis at Chatswood police station.
During sentencing at Hornsby Local Court, her lawyer Michael Bowe disputed police accounts of the collision, describing some details as 'superfluous matters'. Bowe argued that Jansen suffers from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which he claimed causes false alcohol readings on breath-testing devices.
Previous Drink-Driving Acquittal
Jansen first attracted public attention in July 2024 when she fell asleep behind the wheel outside her children's school sports grounds in Northbridge. Initial breath tests showed readings of 0.243 and 0.193. More than a year later, her legal team successfully argued that her blood alcohol reading could have been caused by her skincare regimen combined with her reflux condition.
The court heard that Jansen had consumed two 500ml bottles of Grant's liquid chlorophyll, which her lawyer claimed caused alcohol in her mouth to register inaccurately high levels. Neuropharmacology expert Professor Macdonald Christie testified that the quantity consumed should have resulted in a blood alcohol reading below the high-range threshold.
Assault Charges Revealed
The Daily Mail has now revealed that Jansen was charged late last year under her maiden name with domestic violence-related common assault. She pleaded not guilty in January to assaulting a 76-year-old woman between 12.30pm and 12.45pm on December 18 at Northbridge.
Jansen was granted bail over the alleged assault and is subject to an interim apprehended domestic violence order taken out by police to protect the woman. Her bail conditions prohibit her from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating the alleged victim or anyone in a domestic relationship with her.
Multiple Legal Proceedings
Jansen was already on bail for the driving offences, with conditions including not driving any motor vehicle or occupying the driver's seat. Her lawyer told the court that although Jansen pleaded guilty to the driving charges, she disputes the police version of events, particularly regarding the alleged 0.304 reading.
The court also heard that Jansen 'had a history of alcoholism, is unemployed and has two children as dependents'. Police alleged in bail documents that 'the accused appears to have been intoxicated while driving a vehicle leading to a collision that by luck did not result in injury or death'.
Upcoming Court Dates
The case has been set down for a 'disputed facts' hearing where Professor Christie is expected to give evidence again. Jansen returns to court over the driving offences in July and the assault charge in May, continuing her complex legal battles across multiple jurisdictions.
Throughout the proceedings, Jansen has been seen arriving at court in chauffeur-driven vehicles, including a Kia Carnival and a Lexus NX300 driven by her father. During her most recent court appearance, she shielded herself from cameras with an umbrella despite sunny conditions.
