Court hears details about intimate Harry Garside photo his ex Ashley Ruscoe is accused of distributing – as she also faces domestic violence charges

The ex-girlfriend of Olympic boxer Harry Garside has been charged with distributing an intimate photo in which he poses with a purple wig.

Ashley Alsione Ruscoe was represented by her lawyer Bryan Wrench in Sydney Downing Center local court on Wednesday after being charged with four counts of domestic violence.

The images have been confirmed to depict Mr Garside and are alleged in court to have been distributed without his consent.

The boxer, through his legal team, gave permission to be identified as the alleged victim.

Mr Wrench told the court that Mr Garside had given Mrs Ruscoe a photograph of him posing in a purple wig, which had been displayed in her living room.

“He actually gave my client a picture of himself… posing in a purple wig,” he said.

Ruscoe’s lawyer told the court that the image she was sued for was displayed in her living room (pictured, Garside with Ruscoe in November 2022)

“It’s definitely not an intimate image.”

The photo was used as a bookend by Ms Ruscoe and could not be considered an ‘intimate image’ if it had been seen by so many people, her lawyer argued.

He said witnesses would be called to confirm the public position of the statue in question.

Ms Ruscoe, 35, was arrested at her home in Bellevue Hill in July and charged with assaulting and harassing her former partner, Mr Garside.

Months later, the boxing coach and wellness guru was subsequently charged with two counts of deliberately distributing intimate images without consent.

The allegations of distributing the images of the Olympic boxer without his consent relate to posts about the photos, the court was told.

Mr Wrench said he had no access to ‘exculpatory’ evidence on his client’s phone, which is in police hands.

Ruscoe (pictured with her ex) pleaded not guilty to the two charges related to the photo

Despite reassurances from Mr Garside that he would also provide his phone, the defense team had not received any material from the device either, the court was told.

Mr Wrench said he was told it would take more than two months for police to obtain detailed reports on the data on both phones.

The prosecutor noted that some of the material may need editing.

Ms. Ruscoe, through her lawyer, has entered not guilty pleas to the two charges of unauthorized distribution of an intimate image.

She has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of common assault and stalking or harassment of her ex-partner.

Her case was adjourned until November 8 so that all evidence could be served and reviewed.

The martial arts instructor was arrested earlier this year over an alleged domestic violence incident at her home in the eastern suburbs on March 1.

Mr Garside was originally charged over the alleged altercation but the charges were dropped by police earlier this year. During the proceedings, he steadfastly maintained his innocence.

Ruscoe’s lawyer previously told the court that evidence would come from witnesses who would reveal that Garside (pictured at the 2018 Commonwealth Games) “has a history of domestic violence.”

Ms Ruscoe was arrested weeks after Garside’s defense team told a Sydney court that a video not previously seen by police showed she was the alleged aggressor.

Mr Wrench previously told a Sydney court he was ‘surprised’ his client had been charged over the alleged incident.

He said he was ‘concerned’ about Mr Garside’s ‘motivation’ for coming forward with the allegations against his ex-girlfriend.

The lawyer said in court that he would rely on witness evidence revealing that the boxer has “a history of domestic violence.”

Mr Garside and Ms Ruscoe dated for 18 months before splitting earlier this year.

The couple was often photographed together by the paparazzi and made several high-profile appearances, including at the GQ awards last November.