Kayla Penitani pleads guilty in Coffs Harbour Local Court to Coast Hotel assault

After punching a female bar worker in the face and snatching her handbag, a young woman’s violent outburst spilled onto the street where she repeatedly kicked a police officer.

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

After punching a female bar worker in the face and taking her handbag, a young woman’s violent outburst spilled onto the street where she repeatedly kicked a police officer.

According to court documents, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, a female bar worker had just finished up her shift at The Coast Hotel in Coffs Harbour and was talking to another person when Kayla Penitani yelled at her: “What did you say?”

Penitani, 26, then 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.

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

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

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

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).

Penitani now lives in Kempsey, it was heard in court.

She has pleaded guilty to all charges and the matter has been adjourned to July 23.

Originally published as Kayla Penitani pleads guilty in Coffs Harbour Local Court to Coast Hotel assault