No fault: NRL star stood down over sexual touching allegation

Parramatta star Dylan Brown has appeared in court charged with five counts of sexually touching another person without consent before the NRL stood him down on a no fault basis.

Dylan Brown’s lawyer says CCTV does not support the allegation the Parramatta Eels star touched a woman’s breasts on five occasions at a Sydney eastern suburbs hotel.

The Eels five-eighth was on Wednesday stood down by the NRL on a no fault basis, just hours after he appeared in court for the first time over allegations he touched a woman without her consent at Double Bay’s Golden Sheaf Hotel on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old was charged with five counts of sexually touching another person without consent and was granted bail before he appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.

Dylan Brown is accused of touching a woman’s breasts. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

He was charged with five counts of sexually touching another person without consent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Brown was on Wednesday represented in court by solicitor David Newham and supported by Eels staff and his manager Gavin Orr.

After a brief mention of the matter, Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis agreed to adjourn the matter for three weeks.

“Mr Brown and I viewed the CCTV footage yesterday at the Bondi Police Station,” Mr Newham said outside court on Wednesday.

“It does not support the notion that on five separate occasions Mr Brown has approached this young woman and with both hands has touched both of her breasts. It does not support that at this point in time.”

Mr Brown will return to court in three weeks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The prosecution agreed to two variations of his bail, including having his reporting conditions reduced from three days a week to Monday only.

As well, his previous conditions stated he could not enter the Double Bay area. He had that amended so he was only precluded from licensed premises in Double Bay.

Mr Newham told the court he was hopeful of the matter being resolved when it returns to court later this month.

According to court documents, police allege Brown touched the woman’s breasts on five occasions from 11.19pm and 11.20pm on Saturday night.

Mr Brown, from Rose Bay, was not required to enter a plea on Wednesday.

He is not allowed in licensed premises in Double Bay. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Mr Brown has been stood down under the NRL’s ‘no fault’ policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Brown and his lawyer viewed CCTV footage of the incident at Bondi Police Station on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Brown, who was born in New Zealand, has played 95 games for the Eels since making his debut with the team in 2019 when he was just 18.

He was initially selected for the Eels’ King’s Birthday clash with Canterbury on Monday.

However the NRL exercised their discretion under their “no fault” stand down policy to sideline him.

“The Parramatta Eels have been informed by the NRL that Dylan Brown has been stood down from team selection as part of the NRL’s no fault stand down policy regarding the (alleged) incident this past weekend,” the club said in a statement.

“Dylan will not be eligible for selection until he receives clearance from the NRL.

“Out of respect for the legal process now under way, the club will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Originally published as No fault: NRL star stood down over sexual touching allegation