Paul Kent's alleged domestic violence victim makes shocking claim about high-profile footy commentator in footage played in court
- NRL journalist was sacked earlier this year
- Arraigned in Sydney District Court and pleaded not guilty
- Footage from police officers' body cameras was shown during the hearing
Sidelined rugby league writer and TV presenter Paul Kent has been accused of strangling a woman who told officers he had 'done it before'.
Kent, 54, has pleaded not guilty to assault and smothering charges stemming from an alleged altercation at a western Sydney home in May.
The woman had been in an 'on again, off again' relationship with the sports journalist for several months.
During a hearing at Downing Center Local Court on Monday, prosecutors played footage from cameras worn by police officers who attended the scene.
In the vision, taken on the side of the road, the visibly upset woman told officers that she and Kent had had an argument, during which she took his phone.
Kent (pictured on air for Fox Sports) has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and suffocation stemming from an alleged altercation at his Sydney home in May
The 33-year-old claimed the journalist grabbed her hands and pushed her to the ground, at one point putting his hands on her throat.
When asked if her breathing was restricted during the altercation, the woman said it was.
Officers took photos of marks on the woman's hand, elbow and chin that she said she suffered during the altercation.
“He's done this before and I gave him a chance,” she said in the video.
When police entered the house to ask Kent about the allegations, he said she was “just being mean.”
He agreed that the pair had an argument and that she had taken his phone.
The high-profile former football pundit's hearing in a Sydney court was played via police bodycam footage on Monday
He said when he tried to get the phone back from her, she fell backwards “with her entire body weight.”
While he agreed that he had grabbed her hands over the phone, he denied that any further abuse had taken place.
“She's making something up…she's threatening this stuff all the time, she's always threatening to call the police,” Kent said.
“I didn't hit her, I didn't do anything like that.”
Kent was dismissed from his positions at the Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports while the court proceedings were ongoing and remains on bail.
The hearing continues before Magistrate Daniel Reiss.