Emu Plains plumber Troy McCowan pleads guilty to assault of at Panthers Stadium

A lovestruck Sydney plumber has missed out on the chance of travelling to Spain to feature on reality show Love Island after a jealous spat with his former partner at the footy.

Troy McCowan outside Penrith Local Court. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

A Sydney tradie has had his chance of finding love on a reality dating show squandered after a jealous outburst at his former lover while spending a night at the footy.

Troy McCowan, 25, of Emu Plains, pleaded guilty at Penrith Local Court on Friday to domestic violence-related common assault after an altercation with an ex-partner on April 15.

McCowan, who has recently relocated to Coogee, runs a subcontracting business and was watching Penrith Panthers take on the Brisbane Broncos at BlueBet Stadium when he unexpectedly came across his former partner Ashley Hall in line at the bar.

Court documents state McCowan had been jealous of his 22-year-old ex-partner seeing other men. On seeing her, he approached said: “stop trying to get with my mates”.

Concerned about another confrontation, Ms Hall decided to leave the stadium about halftime but was again confronted by McCowan who tried to take away a Louis Vuitton bag he had bought her for Christmas.

Troy McCowan, 25, of Emu Plains. Picture: Facebook

McCowan grabbed his partner with one hand and the bag with the other, breaking the chain strap.

The pair left separately but ran into one another again at the Panthers Leagues Club.

After a clash with one of Ms Hall’s friends, McCowan was kicked out of the club.

That night, court documents state, he sent his ex-partner multiple messages and told her he was going to her house.

McCowan messaged Ms Hall “I’m out front of yours”, and “you ruined everything”.

Later, he sent her an image with his dog captioned: “Why do I continue to f*****g love you”.

McCowan was arrested two months later and admitted to officers to grabbing the bag.

His lawyer said the altercation was “an act of emotion” and a one-off.

The court heard he had been accepted onto reality show Love Island, which would have been filmed in Spain.

Ashley Hall, 22, found herself on the receiving end of plumber Troy McCowan's jealous outburst at Penrith stadium. Picture: Supplied

After charges were laid in June, McCowan lost out on the opportunity.

Magistrate Geoffrey Hiatt told the plumber it was “perhaps better he didn’t go on” the show.

In sentencing, Mr Hiatt said McCowan had issues accepting the end of the 18-month relationship.

“You treated the victim like she was your property,” he said. “Alcohol is no excuse for your behaviour, or for acts of violence.”

McCowan, who had no criminal history, was sentenced without conviction to a 12-month conditional release order. He was also ordered to not go within 200m of the victim for two years.