Western Lions rugby league captain Angela Leonta Solomon sentenced to jail in Townsville District Court for Centenary Hotel assaults

A Western Lions’ star player is behind bars following an “unprovoked” and terrifying attack on two women at a Townsville pub.

Western Lions rugby league captain Angela Leonta Solomon sentenced to jail in Townsville District Court for Centenary Hotel assaults Picture: Matthew Elkerton

A women’s rugby league player labeled as having “unwavering commitment” to her football community has been jailed with a judge noting the woman’s “Jekyll and Hyde” type of behaviour after severely assaulting two women at a pub.

Captain of the Western Lions’ women’s team Angela Leonta Solomon appeared in Townsville District Court recently for launching an unprovoked attack on a pair of women that resulted in one of them needing surgery to the face.

Crown prosecutor Laura Moore said on May 15, 2022 Solomon was captured on CCTV walking up to a woman known to her, located in the gaming room of the Centenary Hotel, grabbing her by the neck and pushing her backwards onto a slot machine before punching her in the face multiple times.

Ms Moore played the footage in court which depicted the 32-year-old being restrained by other people who had been in the gaming room.

Solomon cried loudly in the courtroom while watching herself attack people on camera.

In another scene of the CCTV footage, Solomon had been given the mobile phone that belonged to the first victim as a patron of the venue mistakenly thought it belonged to her.

When she was approached by the victim’s partner, who tried to retrieve the phone, Solomon grabbed her by the throat before striking her in the face causing fractures to the nose and eye socket.

The other victim suffered a chipped tooth and bruising to the face and neck.

“It was a completely unprovoked attack and it was rather protracted,” Ms Moore said.

“It would’ve caused significant fear having quite a violent attack executed in a small space.”

Ms Moore submitted a victim impact statement to the court from the first victim of the attacks which described the mental toll the assault has had.

Western Lions womens leader Angela Solomon. Picture: Matthew Elkerton

“The impact is not limited to a physical one,” Ms Moore summarized the letter to the court.

“She had to take time off work and expressed fear of living in the same town as Solomon and has considered relocation.”

The crown touched on the woman’s criminal history which included a conviction for punching a security guard at a Cairns nightclub as he attempted to break up an altercation between Solomon and another party and a conviction for verbally abusing members of the public who tried to stop her from damaging cars on Flinders Street.

Defence barrister Kelly Stone submitted a string of character references on the woman’s behalf that included members from the rugby league community, and he also submitted an apology letter written by Solomon.

He also submitted a letter that was addressed to Solomon from the general manager of Community Rugby League, Adam Vanzanten that congratulated the woman on her nomination for in the 2024 community rugby league awards.

“She’s genuinely remorseful and has sought counselling almost straight away,” Mr Stone said.

“It appears drinking is a thorn in her side and the community’s side.

“A year ago she gave up drinking and hasn’t drank since, therapy has given her the tools and coping mechanisms to stay away from the drink.”

Centenary Hotel in Pimlico

He also told the court Solomon advised she would like to offer compensation of up to $3000 to the victims.

“In background to the night, her recollection is that she heard a racial slur she thought was directed at her that came from (the first victim),” Mr Stone explained.

Judge Gregory Lynham acknowledged the context for which the assault occurred but said it was no excuse.

“Even one blow can have the most dreadful consequences,” he said.

“We read often in our newspapers of circumstances of one punch that leads to a person falling and suffering irreparable damage to themselves or even death.”

The judge took into account the glowing character references provided by Solomon’s peers as well as the letter Mr Vanzantan wrote to her regarding a past award nomination.

“A number of your referees speak about your engagement in volunteer work, charity work and the like,” he said.

“(Mr Vanzantan) described your ‘unwavering commitment’ to making a positive impact in your rugby league community… but it re-emphasises the dreadful Jeckyll and Hyde character where 99.9 percent of the time you are a significant member of the community but under the influence of alcohol you become a very different person.”

Solomon who was supported by her partner and friends in court and sobbed as the judge prepared to hand down his sentence.

She pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.

Solomon was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail with a parole release date of August 18 and ordered to pay $3000 total compensation to the victims.

Originally published as Western Lions rugby league captain Angela Leonta Solomon sentenced to jail in Townsville District Court for Centenary Hotel assaults