Layla Janice Lee Kelk in court for assaulting women outside of Hastings St clubs
A young cleaner has faced court over the brutal and random assaults of a 50-year-old woman and 19-year-old security guard in Noosa’s party precinct.
Sunshine Coast
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A Sunshine Coast cleaner reached for tissues as a court heard how she punched a 50-year-old woman outside a Hastings St establishment, causing her to break her arm and fear she will run into her attacker again.
Cooroy woman Layla Janice Lee Kelk, 25, appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court for Murri Court on April 18 and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in public whilst affected by alcohol, assault occasioning bodily, committing a public nuisance offence and breaching bail.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan told the court on January 15, 2023 Kelk approached and yelled at a 50-year-old woman for an unknown reason outside a Hastings St establishment.
A security guard had taken Kelk away but she freed herself from their grip, ran towards the victim and punched her in the face, causing her to fall and break her arm.
She then punched and kicked the woman on the ground, the court heard.
The woman suffered from abrasions, a fractured arm and a bruise to her hip, Mr Callaghan said.
The fracture meant the victim could not start her new job the next day and she developed a fear of running into Kelk again outside.
The other assault related to a 19-year-old security guard outside the Aqua Lounge and Nightclub - formerly the Rolling Rock - on Hastings St on August 27, 2023.
Mr Callaghan said the 19-year-old girl had scratches on her face, bruising and a bloody nose after she was “stomped on” by Kelk.
The girl is now anxious and paranoid around other women, the court heard.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell submitted Kelk should be banned from all Sunshine Coast liquor establishments for 12 months, with all the incidents stemming from alcohol consumption.
Defence lawyer Rod Morgan said his client expressed remorse early on and sent apology letters to the victims, and has actively engaged in seeking services to make necessary changes in her life.
He said Kelk had completed an alcohol program and has no longer used alcohol, therefore consenting to the ban order.
Mr Morgan told the court she will start counselling and hopes to eventually take a tertiary course in beauty to eventually start her own business.
The court heard she works as a casual-time cleaner but takes up to six days of shifts in a week.
Mr Callaghan sentenced her to nine months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for 12 months and to 40 hours of community service.
She was also banned from any establishments which sells liquor for 12 months and she was ordered to pay a total of $2000 compensation to the victims.
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