‘Last chance’: Warning to ex-NRL star
Former NRL player Paul Carter has been granted bail after fronting court for breaching release conditions in a previous domestic violence case.
Carter, 31, appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday after surrendering himself into Waverley police custody on Wednesday. He was obligated to attend after police alleged he failed to complete any of his 140 hours of court-mandated community service following a 2023 domestic violence conviction.
Carter, who appeared via video link from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre wearing a green woollen jumper, was represented by a Legal Aid NSW lawyer.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said if Carter again failed to participate in community service he would “seal his fate” and ensure jail time.
“It’s in his own hands,” Ms Milledge said. “That’s an attitude thing, one scintilla of feedback suggesting that he’s rude, that he hasn’t kept an appointment, and that will absolutely seal his fate.”
As part of his bail conditions, Carter’s partner and mother have told the court their intention to each provide $1000 securities.
“If you don’t get 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 said speaking directly to Carter. “I have no confidence in you whatsoever.
“If I had been dealing with (your initial sentencing) you would have gone to jail.
“Maybe you’ll get off your backside and see that it’s not all your way anymore.
“It is your last chance, you’ve got nowhere soft to land anymore.”
Wednesday’s arrest warrant was issued after Carter failed to appear in court on Tuesday for the bond breach and allegedly did not present at three community service appointments.
Carter pleaded guilty to the domestic violence charges in November last year after attacking his former partner. He also did not challenge the accusations of breach of an apprehended violence order and resisting arrest.
The former NRL up-and-comer was spared a prison sentence provided he complete a two-year community correction order and 140 hours of community service.
Carter, while intoxicated, assaulted his ex-girlfriend at the Coffs Harbour home of his parents on July 29, 2022.
The court was previously told a “verbal and physical altercation” broke out in one of the bedrooms when he derided the woman and spat on her face “approximately three times”.
He bruised her right hand and head after squeezing her arm to the point of bruising, then pushed her away. Photographs catalogued the injuries after she spoke to police.
When authorities went to arrest Carter he was aggressive, injuring an officer attempting to handcuff him.
Carter is the son of Penrith Panthers premiership winner Steve Carter. His 2014-2017 NRL career spanned 40 games for three teams – the Roosters, Titans and Rabbitohs.
He is no stranger to the courts, having previously served a two-year good behaviour bond for supplying cocaine to ex-Sydney Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall in 2017.
He also faced two drink-driving charges over six months in 2014. He pleaded guilty to all three offences.
Carter will return to court on July 2 when a sentencing assessor will consider the magistrate’s recommendation of an intensive corrections order with community service, meaning he must regularly check-in with police.
