Fox Sports TV personality Paul Kent is hit with a fresh domestic violence charge – months after being stood down from his job
- Rugby league journalist was sacked earlier this year
- Kent has been hit with a third, more serious charge
- The lawyer has indicated that he will plead not guilty
- READ MORE: Paul Kent resigned by Fox Sports
Sports journalist Paul Kent has been hit with a third domestic abuse charge as he prepares to fight the allegations in weeks.
The 53-year-old Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports rugby league journalist is fighting charges that he assaulted a 33-year-old woman at his Lilyfield home in May following an alleged domestic dispute.
NSW Police have charged Mr Kent with common assault and intentionally strangling a person without consent. He pleaded not guilty in court in May.
During a brief hearing on Monday, a more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was laid.
“Can we just clarify that I believe a third charge has been filed since the last time we were in court,” Jon-Pierre Elias, Mr Kent’s lawyer, told the court.
A court has heard that Paul Kent (above) has been charged with the serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
‘Assault resulting in actual bodily harm.’
Mr Elias confirmed his client would also plead not guilty to the charges.
NSW Police allege Mr Kent was involved in an ‘altercation’ with a 33-year-old woman before she was ‘allegedly assaulted’.
Officers attended and initially arrested both Mr Kent and the woman, but she was released without charge.
The 53-year-old did not attend the local court at Sydney’s Downing Center on Monday, where it was confirmed he will fight the allegations at a hearing on December 11 and 12.
The court heard that the full evidence had yet to be served, with Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis ordering it to be served by December 4.
The court was previously told there were three witnesses.
Outside court, Mr Kent told reporters in May that he was looking forward to the “full story” coming out.
Kent has previously said he’s looking forward to the “full story” coming out
When asked what his employers thought of the charges, Kent said they fully support him.
“I’m ashamed of it, but unfortunately it’s out of my control, so I’m just going to let the process play out now and once we get to the end, hopefully we can see some things through different eyes,” he said.
“It’s the soap opera of rugby league, it’s the way it plays out… that’s fine, people are entitled to their opinions and if we get to the end everything will be fine.”
The 53-year-old has temporarily stepped down from his role as senior writer for The Daily Telegraph and presenter of Fox Sports show NRL 360.
He will return to court for a hearing in December.