A 50-year-old woman accused of abducting a child has had her bail revoked and additional charges laid against her after allegedly sending threatening text messages to a police officer investigating the case.
Five adults have been charged over the alleged abduction of five-year-old Grace Hughes in Darwin last month.
Juliet Oldroyd was granted bail last month, but was again arrested on Thursday on fresh charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and making threats to a person involved in criminal investigations.
Prosecutors told the court on Friday that Ms Oldroyd was accused of sending at least 18 text messages to an investigating police officer since she was released on bail.
In one of the messages Ms Oldroyd allegedly told the male police officer: "I'll bury you."
"The text messages to the police officer involve 18 short messages sent to the police officer's police-issued mobile device," Prosecutor Chris Teng told the court.
"They contain allegations of threats to safety and wellbeing."
The prosecution argued Ms Oldroyd's contact had caused fear for the police officer.
"The text messages have given rise to the victim's immediate apprehension, for his fear not only to himself, but to his family," he said.
"He's concerned that his family will be targeted by not only the defendant but also her supporters."
Ms Oldroyd's defence lawyer, Matthew Hubber, said the text messages were sent while she was distressed.
"The text messages are contextual … She was upset about a police search [on her home]," he said.
Mr Hubber also argued the texts could not be taken literally.
"She sent the text messages, she shouldn't have done it," he said.
"She's a 50-year-old woman with a pretty serious back injury. It's a nonsense to think she's any real threat to a young police officer."
Judge Therese Austin rejected the bail application and said arguments from Ms Oldroyd's defence lawyer were ill advised.
Ms Oldroyd is scheduled to appear in court on October 17 at Darwin Local Court on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, making threats to a person involved in criminal investigations and two child abduction charges.
Four other people have been charged over their alleged roles in the abduction of the young girl, including Grace's Mother Laura Adelle Hinks, a man and woman in their 60s and a 48-year-old woman.
