Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Manly Sea Eagles star Jorge Taufua avoids jail after spitting on cop
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/manly-sea-eagles-star-jorge-taufua-avoids-jail-after-spitting-on-cop/story-e6frg6nf-1226710522665
MANLY NRL player Jorge Taufua will be free to play in this month's finals after narrowly avoiding jail for spitting on a police officer on the Gold Coast.
Taufua, 21, was given a four-month jail sentence, wholly suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to spitting on the officer outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub on October 19 last year.
The Sea Eagles star only spoke to say "yes'' three times as he entered his plea at Southport Magistrates Court today.
It was revealed Taufua had been celebrating his 21st birthday with family and friends when he was kicked out of the Shooters nightclub.
He returned to the nightclub shortly afterwards in what he claimed was an attempt to apologise to security staff.
As he was escorted from the club by police, Taufua turned his head and spat on the chest and head of one of the officers.
The court was told the officer had to have spittle washed out of his eyes at Pindara Private Hospital and then waited six months before being cleared of having contracted any communicable disease.
Taufua was ordered to pay $2500 to the officer in compensation.
Manly general manager David Perry, who travelled from Sydney with Taufua and his lawyers, said his player's decision to alter his plea to guilty had not been a deliberate ploy to clear him for finals football.
"It's a fair hearing and Jorge has learnt his lesson,'' Perry told reporters outside court.
"I think Jorge, with his profile, can assist other players steer away from these types of issues.''
Perry, Manly coach Geoff Toovey and NRL education officer Nigel Vagana had all provided references for Taufua to the court, while a written apology was sent to the officer last week.
Taufua is ineligible for Manly's last regular season match this weekend as he serves the final game of a two-match ban imposed by the club and the NRL for his actions.
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/manly-sea-eagles-star-jorge-taufua-avoids-jail-after-spitting-on-cop/story-e6frg6nf-1226710522665
MANLY NRL player Jorge Taufua will be free to play in this month's finals after narrowly avoiding jail for spitting on a police officer on the Gold Coast.
Taufua, 21, was given a four-month jail sentence, wholly suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to spitting on the officer outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub on October 19 last year.
The Sea Eagles star only spoke to say "yes'' three times as he entered his plea at Southport Magistrates Court today.
It was revealed Taufua had been celebrating his 21st birthday with family and friends when he was kicked out of the Shooters nightclub.
He returned to the nightclub shortly afterwards in what he claimed was an attempt to apologise to security staff.
As he was escorted from the club by police, Taufua turned his head and spat on the chest and head of one of the officers.
The court was told the officer had to have spittle washed out of his eyes at Pindara Private Hospital and then waited six months before being cleared of having contracted any communicable disease.
Taufua was ordered to pay $2500 to the officer in compensation.
Manly general manager David Perry, who travelled from Sydney with Taufua and his lawyers, said his player's decision to alter his plea to guilty had not been a deliberate ploy to clear him for finals football.
"It's a fair hearing and Jorge has learnt his lesson,'' Perry told reporters outside court.
"I think Jorge, with his profile, can assist other players steer away from these types of issues.''
Perry, Manly coach Geoff Toovey and NRL education officer Nigel Vagana had all provided references for Taufua to the court, while a written apology was sent to the officer last week.
Taufua is ineligible for Manly's last regular season match this weekend as he serves the final game of a two-match ban imposed by the club and the NRL for his actions.
