Legendary party animal Corey Worthington has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man locked in a scooter with a key.
Worthington, now 31, stood before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to two counts, one each of unlawful assault and criminal damage and another of willful damage.
The court heard Worthington assaulted his victim, believed to be in his 50s, in January amid allegations he had sexually assaulted his new girlfriend during a drug deal in Norlane, south Victoria.
Corey Worthington transformed his body to become a Ninja Warrior contestant
A polished Corey Worthington had fought hard to get his life back on track after the infamous 2008 party incident
A police prosecutor told magistrate John Bentley that an enraged Worthington pounded on his victim’s door and pushed past his housemate, smashing a “man cave” sign as he entered.
Worthington demanded to speak to a man known as “Pete,” who he claimed had “touched his misses on the chest without permission.”
The former party animal was asked to leave, while the housemate called 000.
On his way out, Worthington grabbed a large shift key and smashed the driver’s rear window of a car parked in the driveway.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed Worthington then walking up and down the street questioning neighbors about the whereabouts of his intended target.
Worthington told neighbors his girlfriend had bought marijuana “from the neighbor” and repeated allegations of her assault.
Neighbors told police that Worthington stated he was going to “crush” Pete when he overtook him.
Worthington was seen leaving the area in a BMW with the distinctive number plates ‘NT SORRY’ – referring to the name of a party boy business he started in the years following his infamous house party.
Worthington appeared in a 2021 ad wearing his semi-iconic yellow-rimmed sunglasses
Worthington leading up to his performance in Ninja Warrior
The court heard that Worthington saw Pete driving his scooter down the service road of the Princes Highway.
“The suspect approached the victim and punched him in the face and hit the scooter with the wrench before leaving,” the prosecutor said.
The victim suffered a nosebleed in the attack and was taken by ambulance to Geelong Hospital.
The court heard that during the attack, Worthington broke the key in the man’s mobility scooter and damaged a storage box.
During his account of the interview, Worthington told police his partner alleged that ‘Pete’ sexually assaulted her after she bought cannabis from him at the address.
“He went to grope her breasts … she pushed him away and he said, ‘I’m going to rape you’ and she just ran off,” he told police.
“When I heard that and some other stuff, I just cracked it and got in the car and went over there to confront the dude to see what was going on.”
Worthington claimed that Pete knew he was guilty of the alleged assault.
“When I confronted him, I saw that he immediately knew what he was doing. You saw it in his eyes. And when I asked him, he started accusing my misses of robbing him,” Worthington told police.
“He started accusing her of all these things and then I was like ‘scared, just shut up’ and hit him. I wanted to punch him for that scenario, but I also wanted to talk to him. I also have a daughter. I tried to stay calm, but knowing you acted wrong and now you’re throwing this?’ he said.
Worthington refused to remove his sunglasses during this interview with ACA after the 2008 party
Worthington’s attorney Shane Balkin said his client struggled with his fame as a teenager.
Mr Bentley said he remembered Worthington at its height of popularity.
‘I think I remember him – the yellow glasses,’ Mr Bentley mused.
Mr Balkin said Worthington had spent the past 10 years trying to get his life in order and “pull himself out of the media frenzy that swept over him”.
“He has tried very hard to escape media attention,” Mr. Balcony.
After finding fame in 2008, Worthington starred in season eight of Big Brother later that year.
In 2018, he returned to reality television in the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior where he debuted his muscular physique.
Mr. Bentley cited Mr. Balkin’s claims that his client had sought the quiet life.
“Didn’t he go on TV shows and stuff?” he asked.
Mr Balkin alleged that Worthington had been exploited by high-profile publicist Max Markson, who took Worthington on as a client after his teen party.
“Max Markson took advantage of the situation and my client suffered greatly,” said Mr. Balkin.
“You’ve seen his police reports and what happened there in court. All emerged from that situation. Sure, he was 16 at the time – he never should have done it, but he certainly didn’t benefit from it, I can tell you that.’
Corey Worthington (right), seated with 2008 Big Brother hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O
Mr Bentley said Worthington was clearly in need of anger management counselling.
“You can’t, despite what happened, break into someone’s house like he did and attack someone in a wheelchair,” Mr Bentley said.
Mr Balkin said Worthington accepted he had overreacted to his partner’s allegations.
“An investigation into the assault is ongoing. He has clearly overreacted, he knows that and he says he could use some anger management,” he said.
“He is now apologizing and because he has spent the last 10 years trying to extricate himself from the media frenzy, he is experiencing so much regret and remorse over this. Nothing has happened for the past 10-12 years and he finds himself overreacting and doing something stupid. Even if he thinks he was morally responsible.’
The court heard that Worthington had split from his ex-wife and has been dating his last partner for the past four years.
“He has a 15-month-old child. That’s why his work is important now and a conviction could have serious consequences for him.’
Mr Bentley placed Worthington on a six-month good behavior bond, without conviction, and ordered him to undergo court-sanctioned counselling.
Before letting Worthington go, Mr. Bentley suggested he find new license plates for his car.
“I never wanted those records,” Worthington replied. “I got those plates.”
Mr Bentley told Worthington that he sympathized with him about his treatment by the media as a teenager.
“It was terrible what they did to you. You were a 16-year-old boy and there’s no question that Channel, whatever it was, took advantage of you. It was totally unacceptable,” he said.