Rohan Whiting faces Byron Bay Local Court after slapping security guard at Railway Friendly Bar on Jonson St

A Byron Bay man has been forced to face court after he hit a security guard at a popular CBD venue in the North Coast tourism hub.

Rohan Whiting pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault after slapping a Byron Bay security guard.

A Byron Bay man pushed and slapped a security guard after being kicked out of the Railway Friendly Bar in the tourist town’s CBD.

Rohan Whiting pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to two counts of common assault.

The 36-year-old man was at the Railway Friendly Bar on Jonson St when a staff member saw him drinking an alcoholic beverage not supplied by the venue about 6.30pm on June 17.

Whiting denied he bought the drink elsewhere and a security guard asked him to leave several times, police facts state.

“The guard took hold of Whiting’s elbow and escorted him to the exit,” the documents state.

“Whiting pushed back against the movement and gave the guard a minor push.

Rohan Whiting outside Byron Bay Courthouse

“Whiting stood at the entrance, still inside the boundary of the premises and tried to plead with the guard to let him back in.”

The guard refused and began calling the police.

“Whiting swung both his hands in a wide arc in a forceful slapping movement towards the guard’s head,” the documents state.

“The guard lifted his hands up and protected his head.

“Whiting began to run away but the guard caught and restrained him while they waited for police to arrive.”

Whiting told the guard: “You’re going to have a hard time in the Byron Shire. I’m going to find you.”

Railway Friendly Bar at Byron Bay.

Whiting was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

Police state officers believed he was unemployed and living a transient lifestyle in the area.

Defence lawyer Lucy Maranga told the court Whiting’s behaviour was out of character and he had sought support in relation to his alcohol consumption.

“He contributes to society by working at the Mullumbimby Community Garden,” she said.

“He is unemployed because he has an injury to his tendon which prevents him from working.”

Byron Bay Courthouse. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The court heard Whiting’s criminal history included throwing a missile to injure/danger/damage property and behaving in a riotous manner in a public place, though the offending occurred years earlier.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said: “I’ve been at Byron for four years and there is a need to recognise the harm done to the victim.”

“This is not the first time the guard has been assaulted,” she said.

“After you pushed the guard, you asked to be readmitted. Then you slapped him and made a threat to him.

“He is entitled to go to work and go home without being assaulted.”

Whiting was convicted and fined $1000.