Bulldogs players avoid jail, conviction for public nudity charges
TWO drunken footy players have avoided jail and a conviction for public nudity charges over the “disgraceful” Bulldogs Mad Monday romp. Adam Elliott cried after he and former teammate Asipeli Fine pleaded guilty to obscene exposure.
Two drunken footy players have avoided jail over a “disgraceful” Bulldogs Mad Monday romp where naked teammates masturbated each other in public and poured drinks all over their genitals.
Canterbury forward Adam Elliott cried on Monday after he and former teammate Asipeli Fine pleaded guilty to obscene exposure at Downing Centre Local Court.
The pair was charged after cheering players were caught dancing nude on balcony tables to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline during a September postseason bender at a pub in The Rocks.
“Fine can be seen raising a bench stool above his head whilst thrusting his pelvis backwards and forward, moving his penis up and down,” agreed facts state.
CCTV footage captures the 26-year-old kneeling on a table before dropping his underwear as a club member pours water down his penis into a schooner glass below.
“At one stage, a club member can be seen grabbing Elliott’s exposed penis and masturbating it for approximately four seconds whilst Elliott stands there with his hands raised in the air,” court documents show.
“This is then followed with another club member pouring a schooner of alcohol on Elliott’s penis.”
Deputy chief magistrate Jane Mottley sentenced both men to a two-year conditional release order for their “clearly reckless” booze-fuelled misdemeanours which were stoked by a “mob or pack mentality”.
The magistrate condemned their conduct as “disgraceful against any standards of decency”, adding the buffoonery went “on and on and on” for nearly 20 minutes to thunderous applause from staff and players.
The third time Elliott stripped down he was seen spinning around on a table and smacking his chest with both hands with his underwear around his ankles as five club members slapped his buttocks one after another.
Seconds later hooker Zac Woolford, who has signed on with the Newcastle Knights for the 2019 season, reached between Elliott’s legs from behind and masturbated him.
“Elliott does not discourage this or react unwillingly by this gesture but appears to continue dancing,” agreed facts state.
The 24-year-old plays with his own genitals multiple times and at one point falls off a stool but is caught by a waiting and naked Fine.
One player was later pictured vomiting violently in the street and lying on the sidewalk.
Agreed facts show their antics at the Harbour View Hotel could be seen from street level and by people doing the bridge climb.
The duo was supported in court by Bulldogs captain Josh Jackson, a raft of other players and senior club figures.
Elliott, who was accompanied by his girlfriend Robyn Wattam, wiped tears away as his lawyer Andrew Stewart said future overseas career prospects would have been greatly affected by a criminal conviction.
Fine’s barrister Elias Tabchouri applied for him to be diverted to treatment without conviction on mental health grounds but that was rejected by Ms Mottley, who noted it wasn’t a trivial offence and carries a maximum six-month prison term.
Sergeant Jamie Palmer labelled the application “farcical” and said the out-of-contract athlete was the “author of his own misfortune”.
Ms Mottley said both offenders had already suffered a “very public shaming” after bringing enormous reputational damage upon themselves.
“You have exacted it upon your football club and your code generally,” she said.
No convictions were recorded against Elliott or Fine.
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