Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell pleads guilty, faces jail time

There has been a major update in the case of disgraced ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell after he fronted court for the first time after vanishing for months.

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell is set to face jail time after being found guilty of six contempt of court charges over breaching court orders during his time on the run.

It comes as Mr Pannell is being pursued by his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, for allegedly scamming them of $8.7 million.

The 48-year-old, who has been in custody at Fulham Prison in Sale since his arrest last month, was flanked by guards as he entered the Victorian Supreme Court’s courtroom five dressed in a grey tracksuit, green T-shirt and sporting a beard.

Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The wayward Mr Pannell on Friday pleaded guilty to two contempt of court charges in relation to breaching a court order freezing his assets.

Justice Andrew Watson, who is presiding over the case, has previously found Mr Pannell guilty of four other contempt charges in absentia.

Mr Pannell, who represented himself following his lawyers ceasing to act for him last week, conceded he did not have more than $8.7 million in assets – the amount he is accused of defrauding SeaRoad Shipping over the course of a decade.

But Mr Pannell considered contesting one of the two charges he faced before changing his mind.

One of the contempt charges he considered fighting involved the sale of a thoroughbred he owned, which he claimed he sold for $6000 in November, 2024, just before the freezing order was taken out against his assets.

Mr Pannell’s claimed he sold the race horse in November to friend Maree Wilke, which only months later was sold at auction for $150,000.

But barrister Jonathan B Davis KC, acting for SeaRoad Shipping described Mr Pannell’s claim as “fanciful”.

“And this is not Mr Pannell’s first rodeo when it comes to race horses,” Mr Davis said.

Besieged former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has made his first appearance in court since going on the run as he faces contempt of court and fraud charges over an alleged $8.7 million scam. Picture: Getty Images

The court heard Mr Pannell was the 100 per cent owner of the horse when it was sold and later received $93,700 into his account after agistment and auction fees were deducted.

The 48-year-old was then asked if he wanted to “consider his position” by Justice Watson after hearing the affidavit of Ms Wilke – a friend whom he had entangled into the sale.

“I think I’ll retract and change after hearing all that,” he replied from the dock.

The other four guilty findings by Justice Watson were made previously over his failure to provide affidavits to the court.

Mr Pannell is still to face civil proceedings over the alleged $8.7 million he embezzled from SeaRoad Shipping by charging the company for container repairs over the course of a decade which it is claimed were fictitious.

He will face sentencing on Tuesday over his multiple contempt of court breaches for which he could face fines and a term of imprisonment.

The troubled Mr Pannell also this week pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor car, laptop and phone at a hearing at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court.

He was asked by Magistrate Timothy Hoare during that hearing whether he had any thoughts of self-harm following submissions made about his mental health in previous court hearings.

“No sir,” Mr Pannell said.

His next magistrates’ court hearing will be heard on July 23, the day after he is sentenced over his multiple contempt of court breaches.

Mr Pannell officiated more than 200 AFL games including five finals.

Originally published as Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell pleads guilty, faces jail time