Former Test cricketer Michael Slater has been labelled a “domestic abuser” by a magistrate who found his violent offending against an ex-partner couldn’t be dismissed on mental health grounds.
The 52-year-old, who played 74 matches in the baggy green, was convicted on Wednesday of common assault, breaching a restraining order and two other offences against a woman between April and September.
He first accused the woman of being unfaithful, tried to grab her phone, grabbed her instead and later threatened to self-harm.
Despite a restraining order, Slater tried to contact her more than 100 times, including on Whatsapp. His speech was noticeably slurred at times.
Slater applied to have the matters dealt with under a mental health plan, as another court allowed in April for separate offending.
But magistrate Robyn Denes said the offending involved noted aspects of domestic violence crimes: accusations of infidelity, demands to see phones, restrictions on who the woman could meet and speak to and threats of self-harm.
“It’s all controlling behaviours,” she said.
“Threats of self-harm can be viewed as controlling and intimidating conduct, making the other person responsible for the acts of the offender.”
Having thrown out the mental health application, Ms Denes also dismissed an argument to spare Slater a conviction.
“I have not seen any indication (in the tendered material) that what he was doing was being a domestic abuser,” the Manly magistrate said.
“In light of that, a conviction is required and would be expected by the community.”
Slater was convicted of the four offences and placed on two-year good behaviour bonds.
The restraining order was made final, banning Slater from, among other things, trying to find his former partner in the next two years.
John Agius SC had argued Slater’s recent diagnosis treatment for bipolar disorder, adding to various other mental impairments, meant the charges could be dismissed on mental health grounds.
“He should be given one more chance because his bipolar disorder had not been diagnosed at that time,” Mr Agius said.
Slater has been a voluntary inpatient at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital or one of two rehabilitation centres almost every day since April.
Ms Denes agreed to dismiss three other charges on mental health grounds, stemming from a “quite unique” incident at Northern Beaches Hospital in July.
Slater assaulted a fellow patient who was goading him, the court was told.
The former cricketer played in 74 Tests for Australia, scoring 5312 runs at an average of 42.83 after making his debut during the 1993 Ashes tour of England.
He also played 42 one-day internationals before retiring from major cricket in 2004 and embarking on a successful commentary career with Nine and Seven networks.
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