Kayla Penitani sentenced in Kempsey for The Coast Hotel Coffs Harbour assault

A woman who punched a female bar worker in the face and stole her handbag, then lashed out at a police officer after being kicked out of the venue has been sentenced.

The Coast Hotel, Coffs Harbour, February 24, 2023. Picture: Chris Knight

A woman who punched a female bar worker in the face and snatched her handbag, then lashed out at a police officer after being kicked out of the venue has learned her fate.

Kayla Penitani appeared in Kempsey Local Court on Thursday to be sentenced for the New Year’s Eve bar assault.

The 26-year-old had been drinking at the The Coast Hotel in Coffs Harbour and as the new year ticked over, she lashed out at a female worker who had just finished her shift.

Penitani, 26, punched the worker on the left side of her face and pulled the woman’s handbag from her grasp.

Security guards grabbed Penitani and escorted her out of the pub where she was pushed into police officers who happened to be coming inside to conduct a routine business inspection.

Kayla Penitani leaves Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

After being removed, Penitani, along with two female co-accused, refused to stay 50 metres away from the premises on Moonee St.

Court documents state a hotel security guard pushed Penitani to the ground and that is when she kicked out, striking a police officer in the leg four times.

Kayla Penitani leaves Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

The documents further state she was too intoxicated to be interviewed at the time but was later charged with common assault, being an excluded person remaining in a licensed premises, assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty and stealing (a value less than $2,000).

She pleaded guilty to all three charges a few months later, avoiding the need for a trial - something her lawyer urged magistrate Juliana Crofts to take into consideration.

Penitani’s lawyer told the court her client was an “articulate, educated woman” which was reflected in her letter of apology to the court.

The offending was also “highly out of character” she told the court and largely due to her level of intoxication which Penitani advised her was “ten out of ten” on the night.

The Coast Hotel on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour.

Ms Crofts accepted that the behaviour was out of character saying the New Year’s Eve partying tradition helped to explain the situation but could not be considered an excuse.

“I would have a different view (about it being out of character) if it had happened in August.”

According to her lawyer, Penitani has been abstinent from alcohol since February and is soon to start a new job.

Penitani has no matters of violence on her record but a “very serious” traffic matter from 2018 of negligent driving the court heard.

Ms Crofts said that very often violent offenders would start offending from their teens but to see one like this at the age of 26 is “unusual”.

Before sentencing Penitani Ms Crofts told her:

“What you did is completely unacceptable.

“I hope it has surprised you, that you are capable of this, and this is not the person you want to be and, moving forward, will be.”

For the common assault she was convicted and fined $600 and for being an excluded person remaining in a licensed premises she was convicted but no penalty imposed.

For assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty and stealing (a value less than $2,000) Penitani was convicted and placed on a 12-month conditional release order to be of good behaviour.

“I hope we never see you before the court again,” Ms Crofts said.

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