Former NRL star Chris Sandow faces court for obstructing police

A former NRL star pleaded guilty to obstructing police at a Queensland court, but his plea was revoked and his matter adjourned after the court reviewed his criminal record.

Former NRL star Chris Sandow leaving Ipswich Court. Picture: Liam Kidston

A NRL star pleaded guilty to obstructing police at a Queensland court, but his plea was revoked after the court reviewed his criminal records.

Former Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Christopher Carl Gene Sandow, was charged with one count of obstructing a police officer.

The controversial former sports star, dressed in an Adidas grey T-shirt and a pair of black shorts, faced the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that he obstructed a police officer in the performance of his duties in Bundamba on August 23.

Police prosecutor Jo Colston submitted a one-page brief of facts, Mr Sandow’s criminal history and his traffic history.

When magistrate Grace Kahlert was considering his sentence, she realised that he might be under a suspended sentence.

She said Mr Sandow was imposed a sentence of 15 months’ jail, suspended for 30 months for an unrelated offence on November 2, 2021, and that was extended by another 12 months on February 24 last year.

“That’s a total of 42 months from 2021, which is basically 3.5 years ... which would be May 2 next year,” she said.

“So that sentence is still operating, isn’t it?”

But defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell argued the extension was for probation.

Ms Kahlert said there was possibly an accuracy problem with the criminal history.

“I’ll return the documents handed out by the prosecution,” she said.

“That has to be resolved by the next date.”

She vacated the plea and adjourned the matter to December 12.

Mr Sandow made no comments when leaving court.