Paul Carter: Troubled footy star cops a savage spray from furious judge over drama surrounding his domestic violence conviction: ‘This is your last chance’
- This week, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Paul Carter
- Failed to complete 140 hours of community service
- Followed by a conviction for domestic violence in 2023
Former NRL player Paul Carter has been granted bail after facing court for breaching conditions of release in a previous domestic violence case.
Carter, 31, appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday after surrendering to Waverley Police on Wednesday.
He was required to attend after police alleged he had not completed any of his 140 hours of court-ordered community service following a 2023 domestic violence conviction.
Carter, who appeared via video link from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, was represented by a lawyer for Legal Aid NSW.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said if Carter again failed to take part in community service he would “seal his fate” and guarantee a prison sentence.
Troubled former NRL player Paul Carter has been granted bail after facing court for breaching conditions of release in a previous domestic violence case
Carter (pictured left playing for the Roosters in 2017) appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday after surrendering to police earlier this week
“It’s in his own hands,” said Mrs. Milledge. “That’s a matter of attitude, a hint of feedback that suggests he’s being rude, that he hasn’t kept his end of the bargain, and that will absolutely seal his fate.”
As part of his bail conditions, Carter’s partner and mother told the court they plan to provide $1,000 in sureties each.
“If you haven’t gotten the message by now that you’re not doing things your way, you’re doing this the court’s way, you never will,” Ms. Milledge told Carter directly. ‘I don’t have any confidence in you.
‘If I had had to deal with it [your initial sentencing] you would have gone to jail.
‘Maybe you get upset sometimes and realize that it’s not really your thing anymore.
“It’s your last chance, you can’t land anywhere anymore.”
Wednesday’s arrest warrant was issued after Carter failed to appear in court Tuesday for the bond violation and reportedly failed to attend three community service appointments.
Carter pleaded guilty to domestic violence in November last year after attacking his ex-partner. He also pleaded no contest to charges of violating an apprehended violence order and resisting arrest.
The former NRL newcomer was spared a prison sentence on the condition he completes a two-year community order and 140 hours of community service.
Carter previously spent a stint in rehab abroad in an attempt to tackle his addictions
The court found that Carter (pictured right playing for Souths) had not served ‘not a minute’ of his court-ordered community service following his domestic abuse conviction in 2023
Carter, while drunk, attacked his ex-girlfriend at his parents’ home in Coffs Harbor on July 29, 2022.
The court was previously told a ‘verbal and physical altercation’ broke out in one of the bedrooms when he mocked the woman and spat in her face ‘approximately three times’.
He bruised her right hand and head after squeezing her arm hard enough to bruise her, then pushed her away. Photos cataloged the injuries after she spoke to police.
When authorities went to arrest Carter, he was aggressive and injured an officer who tried to handcuff him.
Carter is the son of Penrith Panthers premiership winner Steve Carter.
His NRL career from 2014 to 2017 included 40 games for three teams – the Roosters, Titans and Rabbitohs – and three clubs sacked him for off-field conduct.
He is no stranger to the courts, having previously served a two-year good behavior bail for supplying cocaine to ex-Sydney Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall in 2017.
In 2014, he also faced two charges of driving under the influence for six months. He pleaded guilty to all three offences.
Carter will return to court on July 2, where a sentencing assessor will consider the magistrate’s recommendation to impose an intensive corrections order with community service, which will mean regular contact with police.