Taylah Farrant pleads guilty to assault after kicking man at Byron Bay, while Josh Mills and Alec Barker fight brawl charges

A Northern Rivers woman has landed in court after kicking a man in the ribs while he lay motionless and bleeding on the road after allegedly being bashed at Byron Bay. Here’s the latest.

Taylah James Farrant, 23, faced court after she kicked a man who was bloodied and motionless on the ground. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

A Cumbalum woman has landed in court after kicking a man in the ribs twice while he lay motionless and bleeding on the road after allegedly being bashed at Byron Bay.

Taylah James Farrant, 23, pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of common assault.

Co-accused men Josh Mills and Alec Barker have each pleaded not guilty to affray and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others.

Hot Bread Bakery in the CBD.

Barker has also denied two counts of common assault. The pair are due to appear for a joint hearing at Ballina Local Court on November 1.

Farrant was with a group out and about in Byron Bay on November 11 last year, agreed facts tendered to Ballina Local Court state.

Her group got into an argument with another group of revellers outside Hot Bread Bakery on Jonson St about 3am.

Police state the groups were both affected by alcohol and had spent the night out in the CBD.

It’s alleged Mills was “badgered” and “pushed” by an unknown man and the verbal disagreement escalated to “pushing and shoving”.

Farrant did try to separate the groups at one stage, the documents state.

It’s alleged the other group was pushing Mills away and Barker “threw three punches” at a man’s head, connecting and “causing him immediate pain”.

Farrant repeatedly kicked the man – allegedly after he was badly injured as a result of a brawl in Byron CBD. File image.

Police state he was “acting out of self-defence” and “swung punches towards Barker before being restrained in a headlock by another member of the other group”.

Mills and Barker both threw multiple punches during the melee, it’s alleged.

Police state “Mills grabbed the first victim and threw him to the ground”.

“ … as he lay on the road outside the Great Northern Hotel, Mills stomped on the back of his head twice, losing his shoe in the process,” it’s alleged.

“He then used his shoe to strike the first victim on the head again.”

Farrant leaned over the downed man “and kicked him in the back twice” as he did not move.

According to court documents, the man’s friend pushed Farrant off and members of the public rushed to help, removing him from the road and phoning triple-0 for help.

Police appealed for information after the incident. Picture: File

Police found the man “laying down and bleeding on the path” and Farrant told police “that guy hit me so I kicked him”.

The fracas was captured on Byron Shire Council CCTV.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden noted Farrant tried to split up the fight initially.

Byron Bay Court House. Picture: Savannah Pocock

But she told the court “the victim was lying on the ground after someone stepped on the back of his head” when she attacked, that he was motionless – and “violence is not tolerated by the community”.

“You were intoxicated, which is not an excuse, but it does provide context as to why a young woman with no prior convictions engaged in out-of-character behaviour,” Ms Crittenden said.

“I know you are embarrassed and ashamed, have no previous criminal history and wish to work in aged care.

“There is a need for the courts to prevent alcohol-fuelled violence on the street.”

Ms Crittenden fined Farrant $1000 and a conviction was recorded.