Maddie Colless pleads guilty to assault after Toormina Hotel fight

Simmering tensions over a man boiled over when two women got into a wild confrontation at a popular Coffs Coast pub.

Maddie Colless pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after an incident at the Toormina Hotel on August 12.

Simmering tensions over a man boiled over when two women got into a wild confrontation at a popular Coffs Coast pub.

Maddie Colless, 20, of Boambee East, faced the music in Coffs Harbour Local Court. on Wednesday after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court was told the valued Bunnings worker went to the hotel just after 8pm on August 12.

Toormina Hotel, Coffs Harbour.

She walked past a former friend and made a gagging sound.

Police state in court documents the other woman, who was seated, said to Colless: “What c--t?”

Colless replied “what did you just say to me”, slapped the woman and walked off.

As Colless left she said “you won’t fight me, you won’t hit me in the pub”, the court heard.

She was wrong – it’s alleged the other woman punched Colless and triggered a melee of hair-pulling, slaps and punches eventually broken up by security and hotel staff.

The other woman suffered a busted lip and a lump near her eye, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Hugo Schleiger said Colless suffered “extracurial” punishment because she was banned from many Coffs Harbour licensed venues under a local liquor accord agreement.

A character reference for Colless from Bunnings was tabled to Coffs Harbour Local Court.

He said the other woman had also been charged.

Mr Schleiger handed up a character reference from Colless’ employer.

Magistrate Aaron Tang told Colless the incident concerned him because it involved “multiple punches”.

“There’s a real anger management issue that needs to be addressed,” he said.

He convicted Colless and sentenced her to a nine-month conditional release order with supervision.