Ex reality TV ‘farmer’ Samuel Messina sentenced for shocking attacks on former girlfriend

A disgraced reality TV star who featured on Farmer Wants a Wife has learnt his fate after assaulting his then-girlfriend multiple times, leaving her “ashamed and isolated”.

Ex Farmer Wants a Wife star Samual Messina is now a convicted domestic violence offender. Picture: 7 Media

A “controlling and abusive” former reality TV star has copped his punishment for a series of disgraceful domestic violence crimes against his former girlfriend.

Samuel Christopher Messina, who featured in the hit TV dating show Farmer Wants a Wife in 2020, learnt his fate in Port Kembla Local Court on Monday.

The charges were laid against Messina after the show went to air.

Magistrate Michael Ong’s sentencing came three months after the 27-year-old was found guilty of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm during a hearing in the same jurisdiction.

Taking into account two further charges of trespassing and intimidation, Mr Ong sentenced Messina to a 18-month community correction order.

The court had previously heard the disturbing attacks took place at their Orange residence over several months in 2019.

The assaults included Messina slamming a door on the victim‘s foot, punching her in the nose and grabbing her by the clothes and throwing her to the floor – the latter crime leaving the woman with scratches on her chest.

Messina was accused of a fourth assault involving whipping the woman with a phone charger, however, Mr Ong said this allegation couldn‘t be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Samuel Messina walking into Port Kembla Local Court ahead of his sentencing. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Samuel Messina running past the media and into Port Kembla Courthouse in November, 2022. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The court had heard the pair’s relationship was “controlling and abusive”, however, Messina denies he ever assaulted his ex.

While Messina chose to fight the four assault charges, he did plead guilty to trespassing and intimidation in an incident where he rocked up to the victim‘s mother’s home and threatened to kill her pet rabbits.

The court previously heard the victim continued to live at the home she shared with Messina and another person for a couple of months after they broke up before moving back to her mother’s house in the Illawarra.

In court on Monday, Messina’s new lawyer, Mathew Lowry, told the court his client “works really hard” as an interstate truck driver.

Mr Lowry submitted Messina had recently completed his accreditation to work in real estate after previously having ambitions to become a police officer.

Samuel Messina courted controversy on Farmer Wants a Wife, sending home the two girls vying for his heart, saying he saw them only as “friends”. Picture: 7 Media

“He is very remorseful and embarrassed for this whole situation,” Mr Lowry said.

Mr Ong said he was “worried” about Messina’s prospects of reoffending given he has shown “very little acceptance” of his offending.

“Domestic violence is rife in the community,” Mr Ong said when handing down his sentence.

“Many people remain in domestic relationships when there is violence and abusive behaviour.

“They remain in silence because they are concerned about what would happen if they leave the relative safety of having a roof over their head.”

Messina was ordered to pay a $350 fine for trespassing and complete 150 hours of community service.

He must also attend the Orange Community Corrections office within seven days.

Messina has appealed the sentence with the matter to be heard in Wollongong District Court in February.