Benjamin Boyle throws sock at cop’s face at The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay

A Victorian basketball coach and accountant hit a police officer in the face with a sock after being asked to remove his shoes while on a holiday at Byron Bay, a court has heard.

A Victorian basketball coach hit a police officer with a sock after being stripsearched following a wild night out at a popular Byron Bay hotel.

While on holiday at Byron Bay, Benjamin Boyle was arrested by police after he hit an officer in the face with a sock while being strip searched on a wild night out at The Beach Hotel on Bay Street.

The 42-year-old from Sandringham pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on duty, re-entering or attempting to re-enter a licensed premises within 24 hours of being refused admission or to be turned out due to intoxicated, quarrelsome and disorderly conduct.

According to Byron Bay Local Court documents, security staff at The Beach Hotel asked Boyle to leave due to his poor behaviour and drunkenness at 12.20am on July 7.

Police documents state that officers were nearby and noticed Boyle arguing with the security staff so they also asked him to leave the location, so he left.

Benjamin Boyle exits Byron Bay Local Court after being charged with assaulting a police officer.

However, Boyle returned to The Beach Hotel where he was taken into police custody and they took note of his dilated pupils which were unresponsive to introduced light, police state.

Boyle’s defence lawyer Benita Miciulis said that his client was returning to pick up a jacket that he had left behind.

Police observed that Boyle was argumentative and talking quickly, so they believed he was under the influence and in the possession of an illegal drug. As police searched Boyle, they requested that he remove his shoes and socks.

“He became aggressive and yelled at the police officer ‘Are you f**king kidding me!’,” according to police documents.

“He then removed his sock and yelled ‘here‘s your f****** sock’ and Boyle used his hand holding the sock to strike the officer on the right side of his face causing immediate pain.”

Boyle was arrested on the spot and taken to the Byron Bay police station.

Magistrate Annette Sinclair said Boyle’s references “tell me a lot of positive things but they also tell me that you have had a privileged life”.

“You are well travelled, educated, have a full-time job along with a wife and two daughters,” Sinclair said.

“One daughter you coach basketball games for.”

Magistrate Sinclair said Boyle decided to leave his responsibilities behind and come to Byron Bay where he “overindulged in alcohol to the point where you did not exercise the appropriate level of self-control”.

Ms Sinclair did not convict Boyle but he must abide by a two-year conditional release order.