NRL executive’s son guilty of assault after kissing bouncer

A Sydney magistrate has shaken his head and told a court he rarely has to tell people to avoid fights by kissing while sentencing the son of a former NRL player-turned-executive in the eastern suburbs.

Shannon Donato and his son James. Picture: Facebook

The teenage son of a leading football executive and former NRL star has pleaded guilty in court to assaulting a bouncer — by kissing him on the lips.

James Donato, 18, appeared in Waverley Local Court this week supported by his father former South Sydney player Shannon Donato, who previously acted as the Rabbitohs chief executive and is now the club’s chief commercial officer.

James Donato leaving Waverley Court. Picture: Richard Dobson

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Mr Donato sat in the public gallery as the court heard details of the bizarre encounter at the Bondi Hotel between his son, another teen and a member of the hotel’s security team.

Court documents state that James Donato and an 18-year-old friend were refused entry in the early hours of April 14 and repeatedly asked to leave when they goaded the bouncer to “walk around the corner to fight”.

Donato then kissed the bouncer on his upper lip “without … consent” after being encouraged by his friend and a scuffle broke out, with the security guard pinning Donato to the ground as the other teen jumped on his back.

Police arrived and arrested the two friends, later finding 0.43 grams of cocaine in a bag in Donato’s wallet.

Shannon Donato supported his son in court. Picture: Richard Dobson

Officers asked Donato about the bag to which he replied: “I didn’t know it was there”.

The bouncer was left with “minor redness” on his forehead following the scuffle.

Donato’s lawyer Rebecca Dunlop told the court there were words exchanged between the two friends and security before the kiss.

“Some were unsavoury towards my client … there was this silly encouragement … in my submission, it was a common assault that was quite fleeting,” she said.

Donato was found guilty of common assault, possessing a prohibited drug and remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises but avoided a conviction on the three charges.

Magistrate Greg Grogin shook his head as he sentenced Donato to a two-year conditional release order, saying: “I constantly tell people not to get involved in fights by punching them — I very rarely tell them not to get involved in fights by kissing them.”

The magistrate said Donato had been lucky.

“I’m sure (bouncers) never go to work thinking they’re going to get kissed,” Mr Grogin said.

“You’re lucky you didn’t receive something (more) substantial from him as a natural reaction. You’re a good footballer … you only left school last year … you’re a person of otherwise good character … if you’re told to leave the premises because you’re drunk, leave, don’t go assaulting anybody in any way.”