Possum Creek man William John Parrington pleads guilty to assaulting Byron Bay nightclub staff member

A North Coast medical apprentice punched a Byron Bay nightclub worker after a prior court appearance for a drink driving crash.

William Parrington outside Byron Bay Local Court

A Possum Creek medical apprentice punched a Byron Bay nightclub worker for kicking his friend out of the premises.

Earlier this year, William John Parrington was convicted in Ballina Local Court of driving under the influence following a crash on Glebe Bridge at Coraki in August 2022.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to assault causing actual bodily harm and breaching a community corrections order.

Parrington and the victim were at the Great Northern Hotel on Jonson St in Byron about 10pm on April 25, court documents state.

The Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay.

Parrington recognised the other man as a responsible service of alcohol (RSA) marshal from Lovers Lane nightclub on Lawson St.

He confronted the off-duty worker at Railway Park about an incident that happened a week before.

Parrington said: “I am a friend of that guy that got kicked out on Saturday night from Lovers Lane.”

The victim said it was out of his hands and had been investigated by police.

Parrington became aggravated and was held back by two men as he called the victim a “f--king idiot”, police state.

He escaped their grip and threw a punch at the victim, which missed – on the first occasion.

Police state “the victim was trying to restrain Parrington” when the 18-year-old “turned and punched him in the mouth”, splitting his top lip.

“The victim felt instant pain and could taste blood in his mouth,” the documents state.

Parrington punched the victim.

Hotel security guards intervened and separated the men.

Police arrived and noticed both men were drunk, the documents state.

Defence Lawyer Gregory Allan McBurney told the court the violence was out of character.

“He had started a new medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) prior to committing this offence … he is at a low risk of reoffending,” he said.

Mr McBurney said the attack “was not prolonged” and pointed out one of the punches missed.

“He is highly embarrassed by this,” he said.

The court heard Parrington was seven weeks into a community corrections order for driving under the influence when he offended.

William Parrington at Ballina Court in March for drink driving

Magistrate Karen Stafford said Parrington being brought in front of the courts twice for alcohol-related offending indicated there was a problem with his consumption.

She said the violence was directed at “someone who was just trying to enjoy their night out at the Great Northern Hotel”.

“Where someone so young is committing offences like that in town there is a real issue,” Ms Stafford said.

“You do not mix ADHD medication with alcohol … the community can’t be safe from you if you are drinking alcohol.”

Ms Stafford sentenced Parrington to a supervised 12-month community corrections order, fined him $1000 and ordered 80 hours of community service.

“If there‘s a future violent or alcoholic-related offence, particularly in the next 12 months you may see yourself going to jail,” she warned.