Laura Hodge assaults police, threatens to sue while being thrown out of Byron Bay nightclub Lovers Lane

A Byron Bay woman who pinched and hit an officer threatened to sue police as she was dragged from a popular nightclub for refusing to leave the premises. Now, she’s faced court.

Lovers Lane nightclub

A Byron Bay woman who pinched and hit an officer threatened to sue police as she was dragged from a popular nightclub for refusing to leave the premises.

Laura Hodge pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to failing to leave premises, hindering police and assaulting an officer.

The 29-year-old and a friend were asked to leave Lovers Lane nightclub on Lawson St by security and police due to their level of intoxication about 2am on May 13, court documents state.

Hodge argued and refused to leave, declaring “she was standing her ground”.

Police grabbed Hodge’s arms and led her out of the venue while she threatened to sue and yelled that officers could not touch her.

Byron Bay Police Station

Hodge pushed officers and screamed at them when her friend was arrested, the documents state.

“What has he done?” she said.

Police asked Hodge to stay back “10 times”, but she did not listen.

An officer pulled Hodge away from the fray and she pinched and hit him twice in the shoulder, leaving red marks, according to the documents.

Hodge was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

Hodge was arrested for assaulting and hindering officers

Her lawyer, Kylie Anderson Clark, told the court Hodge was intoxicated and became upset when her friend was arrested.

“She accepts responsibility for how she acted,” Ms Clark said.

“She will not drink to that level again.”

Magistrate Karen Stafford told Hodge: “Security had to flag down police and you were dragged down the stairs.”

“These offences happen way too often in this area around late-night premises and the behaviour needs to be stamped out,” she said.

Hodge was convicted and fined $1500.