Ex-NRL star Brett Finch has pleaded guilty to a new charge while serving a community order for sending child abuse messages via a sex chat service in an attempt to obtain drugs in 2022.
The 42-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2022 after pleading guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to transmit or publish child abuse material; However, the judge ordered that he serve his term in the community.
He appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after being charged with failing to comply with his reporting obligations on December 15.
Finch has entered a guilty plea and will now have to report to Sutherland Police Station for fingerprinting.
Ex-NRL star Brett Finch has pleaded guilty to a new charge while serving a community sentence for sending child abuse messages
Over three months, Finch sent seven voice messages to other men via the gay sex chat service FastMeet, expressing his desire to perform sex acts with young boys.
During his testimony, the former NRL star said the messages were part of a desperate attempt to feed his addiction to the drug cocaine.
Although Judge Phillip Mahony found it an “absurd” scheme, he determined the messages stemmed from Finch’s addiction and not a desire to abuse children.
The former halfback retired from rugby league in 2013 after two grand final losses while playing for the Sydney Roosters in 2003 and 2004 and one win in 2009 while playing for the Melbourne Storm.
This title would eventually be removed from the record after it emerged that the club had breached salary cap rules.
Over the course of his 15-year career, Finch played for Canberra, the Roosters, Parramatta and Melbourne and made 60 appearances in the English Super League.