Chloe Roberts sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Kyogle

A Kyogle woman dragged a “good Samaritan” to the ground by her hair, before kicking and punching her, in what a magistrate described as a cowardly attack. Read how a night out turned violent.

Chloe Roberts pleaded guilty at Kyogle Local Court on October 14 to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A Kyogle woman dragged a “good Samaritan” to the ground by her hair, before kicking and punching her, in what a magistrate described as a cowardly attack.

Chloe Roberts, 24, pleaded guilty at Kyogle Local Court on Friday October 14 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The victim was walking home alone from a night out at the Commercial Hotel in Kyogle when she came across a group of men attacking another man at around midnight on August 19.

The woman ran to help the man and called Triple-0, the court heard.

While she was sitting with the man and waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Roberts approached with a group of her friends, who had also been at the Commercial Hotel that night, police facts stated.

Chloe Roberts pleaded guilty at Kyogle Local Court on October 14 to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Roberts got into an argument with the man and that soon became an argument with the victim – who was known to her.

“During this argument both the victim and accused screamed abuse towards each other,” police facts stated.

The victim turned her back and began walking away when Roberts grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground.

Roberts continued to assault the victim - punching, kicking and pulling her hair for a short time - before the accused and her “associates” left the scene, police facts stated.

Magistrate Michael Dakin said it was a “cowardly” attack from behind, made worse because it was against a “good Samaritan” who was trying to help someone in trouble.

The victim suffered soreness and bruising to her little finger, and grazes to her head, elbows and knees. She also sustained a bruised tailbone, and some of her hair was torn from her scalp.

On August 31, police attended the residential address of Roberts and spoke to her regarding the alleged assault.

“The accused made full and frank admission to assaulting the victim, stating that she lost control,” police facts stated.

Roberts’ lawyer told the court the accused suffered from a mental health condition that influenced her behaviour on the night of the offending, adding that Roberts is now seeing a GP and counsellor to help her manage “emotional outbursts”.

On October 12, the victim contacted police to provide an update on her injuries, noting she had sustained ligament damage on her little finger which required surgery.

Mr Dakin said Roberts had no prior criminal record and had “reasonable, if not good” prospects of rehabilitation, however he needed to send a clear message to the community that kicking someone is an unacceptable action.

Roberts was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.