Schoolies Victor Harbour 2017: 18yo man ‘punches’ woman

A REVELLER who allegedly punched a teenage girl during Schoolies celebrations has been charged by police after video footage surfaced.

POLICE have arrested an 18-year-old man after he allegedly punched a young woman in the face.

A scuffle broke out inside the festival zone just before 11pm on Saturday when 9News cameras captured the moment the man allegedly hit the 18-year-old woman in Victor Harbour.

The incident marred the final night of the Schoolies Festival in South Australia.

The young woman was knocked off her feet by the blow and police quickly arrested the “toolie” who was charged with assault and disorderly behaviour, theAdvertiser reported.

SA Police Superintendent Mark Fairney told 9NEWS such behaviour was disappointing.

“This gentleman will appear before court and have to answer to the charges of assault,” he said.

“He will need to explain his version of events. It’s sad that there will always be a small percentage of individuals that see fit to behave in a way that’s unacceptable.”

Three other “toolies” were arrested during the Schoolies Festival including:

■ A 20-year-old Goolwa man for disorderly behaviour and failure to leave a declared public precinct.

■ A Newton man, 19, for refusing to give his name, resist and hinder police.

■ A Middleton man, 23, arrested for re-entering a declared public precinct and hindering police.

SA Police also arrested a 17-year-old male schoolie from Modbury North for disorderly behaviour, the Advertiser reported.

The arrests come after Queensland Police arrested 66 schoolies during celebrations, fewer than previous years.

Police were also investigating an incident where five boys allegedly trashed the penthouse of a well-known luxury Gold Coast hotel during the last night of the event on Saturday.

According to police, the boys were responsible for the damage to every wall of the penthouse at the Mantra Sun City Resort on Surfers Paradise Blvd.

The group was found by a hotel duty manager who kicked them out and called their parents, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

It also comes as schoolies from southern states descend on Surfers Paradise for the second week of partying.