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Ex-Big Brother contestant sentenced over drunken attack on wine tasters

A former Big Brother contestant has pleaded guilty to assault after a drunken afternoon at a Mount Martha vineyard.

Rita Lazzarotto, who appeared on the reality show in 2005, admitted to drinking too much on what should have been her wedding day.

Her wedding was called off after her relationship broke down, and Ms Lazzarotto found herself in a drunken altercation at a wine tasting event in August last year.

The magistrate was told after an afternoon drinking, the 41-year-old attacked fellow wine tasters at the Briars in Mount Martha.

She bit, scratched, elbowed and punched several strangers and tried to gouge the eyes of one man who attempted to stop her.

Former Big Brother Rita Lazzaroto has pleaded guilty to assault after a drunken afternoon at a Mount Martha vineyard. Source: 7 News
Former Big Brother Rita Lazzaroto has pleaded guilty to assault after a drunken afternoon at a Mount Martha vineyard. Source: 7 News

Ms Lazzarotto, who spiralled into the public eye as a Big Brother intruder 13 years ago, has now apologised to the winery, and the people she assaulted after drowning her sorrows.

“Sorry for the events of the day and the people that I hurt, I was going through a very hard and traumatic time in my life,” she said.

Rita Lazzaroto appeared on Big Brother in 2005. Source: 7 News
Rita Lazzaroto appeared on Big Brother in 2005. Source: 7 News

She pleaded guilty to eight counts of assault and recklessly causing injury.

Her lawyer Michael Kuzilny told the court she was a model citizen before the drunken onslaught.

She was sentenced to a six-month good behaviour bond and has vowed never to drink again.

“I’m just so sorry,” she said.