Ex-NRL star Chris Sandow in custody over alleged police assault

Once NRL Rookie of the Year Chris Sandow is tonight behind bars, accused of a string of charges including assaulting police, despite pleading with a magistrate for release to deal with suspected head-knock injuries sustained during his football career.

Ex-NRL halfback Chris Sandow will remain behind bars after a failed bid at bail today in a southeast Queensland court.

Former Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs playmaker Christopher Carl Gene Sandow, 33, appeared in Ipswich Magistrate’s Court on September 12, 2022, charged with assaulting police.

The former Rookie of the Year was charged with serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm, serious assault of a police officer or person acting in aid of police officer, two counts of obstructing police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving without a licence, and evasion.

The offences allegedly occurred throughout July and August this year, culminating with the alleged assaults and obstruction of police at Mr Sandow’s East Ipswich house in late August.

Mr Sandow is accused of dangerously operating a car on the Ipswich Motorway at Goodna without a licence on July 7, 2022.

He is further accused of, on August 27, on the Ipswich Motorway in Gailes, driving without a licence and evading police, failing to stop when directed to do so as soon as considered reasonable.

On August 28, the police attended Mr Sandow’s house in East Ipswich, where Sandow allegedly obstructed officer Peter Torzsok in the performance of his duties twice, assaulted officer Taleah Kay Doyle – causing bodily harm – and assaulted a man at the scene, Andrew Norman Goulding.

Chris Sandow. Picture: News Regional Media

The court heard Mr Sandow was taken into custody and made an application for bail on August 30.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella rejected his application on that occasion, due to the potential for Mr Sandow to reoffend and the unacceptable risk that he could fail to appear and fail to surrender into custody.

On September 12, Mr Sandow made a second application for bail, which police prosecutor Sergeant Brad Dick opposed, saying Mr Sandow still posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

ATSILS defence lawyer Patrick O’Donnell said there had been a change in Sandow’s legal and health circumstances.

“He’s an exceptionally talented footballer … he had a distinguished career,” he said.

“He is concerned that with the head knocks he’s had from football over the years, that he could have some problems now … He instructs that he wants to go as soon as possible to speak to a neurosurgeon.”

Acting Magistrate Rob Turra said “that may be the case, but how do you draw a connection between that and the offending behaviour?”

He noted Mr Sandow would have had many occasions to pursue this issue since ending his NRL career and working in mining.

“You’ve got nothing here from any medical practitioner that he’s got anything at all … I don’t see how it’s got any connection to the offending and his risk,” he continued.

Mr O’Donnell emphasised Mr Sandow had no criminal history involving assaulting or obstructing police, and said he had the support of his mother and girlfriend, who both attended court.

Mr Kurra noted Mr Sandow had written a letter saying he wanted to re-engage in his culture, give back to the community and be a role model for kids.

Sergeant Dick said “none of what my friend has raised, with respect, addresses the underlying issue of why he was refused bail in the first place”.

“There’s nothing that’s changed between then and now … it’s just attempting to have another crack at bail.”

Mr Kurra ultimately determined “none of [Mr O’Donnell’s arguments] are sufficient for me to find there’s a material change in circumstances”.

He said many of the details raised by Mr O’Donnell had been raised during the first bail application, but bail had been refused regardless.

Mr Sandow was remanded in custody, and was scheduled to appear for mention on October 4.