The estranged on-again, off-again partner of sport journalist Paul Kent has given an account about an alleged domestic violence incident in new video played to a court.
The 53-year-old Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports rugby league journalist is fighting allegations he attacked a 33-year-old woman at his home in Lilyfield in May, 2023.
Police allege the pair were involved in a domestic dispute before Mr Kent assaulted and choked the woman. He was arrested by NSW Police at the home shortly after.
Body-worn footage played before a hearing at Downing Centre District Court on Monday showed the woman telling officers that Mr Kent had had his hands “around my neck”.
“I don’t want to make my life more difficult. It’s the second time this has happened … the last time, I hoped it would be the last,” the woman was heard telling officers.
“I have to go to the airport. I didn’t expect this to happen. I don’t want to ruin his life … He has done this before and I have given him a second chance.”
Police were captured on video photographing the woman’s left hand, right elbow, chin, and neck, which the woman told the officer was “red” as a result of the alleged attack.
Paul Kent, right, is fighting allegations of domestic violence. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short
About the same time, police attached to Glebe police station attended the scene and spoke with Mr Kent, who was still inside the home. Their body worn footage was also played.
In the video, Mr Kent was heard telling officers that the woman had been “nasty” and that she had allegedly tried to take his phone following an argument earlier that morning.
“I told her to leave … I grabbed my phone with my hands and she fell to the ground and screamed,” Mr Kent said while motioning with both hands.
“I didn’t hit her, I didn’t strike her. She fell to the ground … I got the phone and then she tried to get my computer. She said: ‘What are you hiding?’
“She was outside when she rang you … she wasn’t in danger. I’m not attacking her, I did nothing. The only time I touched her was to try and get my phone back.”
Mr Kent told police the couple had not seen much of each other for about two months and that she had accused him of lying and had called him repeatedly.
The day of the incident, Mr Kent told police he was alerted to the woman entering his home by the back sliding door on his CCTV before the argument broke out.
Mr Kent told police the woman called his “boss” after the alleged attack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short
Shortly after, a man who told police his name was Steve and that he ran Fox Sports arrived at the home in Sydney’s inner west and spoke with officers about Mr Kent.
“I’m his boss at work… she (the woman) rang me as well. I said: ‘You’ve done this before’, and she said ‘Yes’. We’ve discouraged him from seeing her,” he said.
“But, I don’t know what to do. I spoke to him last night.... I run Fox Sports, he’s one of our hosts.... I look after him because she’s taken advantage of him.”
A second man present outside the house but who was not named on the recording went on to tell police: “She’s a nice girl. I f****g feel for her, she makes it up”.
Mr Kent had previously accused the woman in the footage of having “made s**t up” and threatening to call the police because of, he alleged, his job in the media.
“She threatened this s**t all the time.... Because I work in the media, if I get f******g charged there is every chance I get sacked. That’s what I said to her.”
The woman was called to give evidence on Monday in a closed court session. The hearing is set to resume later on Monday.
Mr Kent was temporarily stood down from his roles as a senior writer for The Daily Telegraph and host of Fox Sports show NRL 360. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short
In total, Mr Kent faces three charges including common assault, choking a person without their consent, and the more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges in court earlier this year. Initially, the woman was also arrested but was later released without charge.
Mr Kent’s lawyer, Phillip Boulen SC, questioned Constable Jack Wrinkler, whose body worn footage was played, over whether he had told Mr Kent the case was “weak”.
The 53-year-old was temporarily stood down from his roles as a senior writer for The Daily Telegraph and host of Fox Sports show NRL 360 after the charges were laid.
The court was told Mr Kent had only a single matter of low-range drink driving on his record. During the footage, both Mr Kent and the woman mentioned he had guns in a safe at the home.
The woman was called to give evidence before the court on Monday in a closed court session. The two-day hearing is set to resume later on Monday.
www.foxsports.com.au
