‘Predatory and planned’: Police say Tristan Sailor drugged woman before alleged sexual assault
Rising NRL star Tristan Sailor has been granted strict bail after police allege he drugged then sexually assaulted a young woman after meeting her at a Bondi pub.
Illawarra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illawarra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Police raid Wollongong bike shop allegedly used as front to deal ice
- Dalibor Bubanja charged over alleged rape, assault campaign
A woman allegedly sexually assaulted by the son of footy great Wendell Sailor had been drugged with a sedative and had texted him the next day to ask “what happened last night”, a court has been told.
Tristan Sailor, whose own NRL career has stalled after his recent release by St George Illawarra, was arrested on Saturday and charged with aggravated sexual assault over what prosecutors described as a “predatory and planned” attack.
The 22-year-old appeared on Sunday at Wollongong Court where text messages between the player and the woman after the alleged assault on October 3 were discussed.
The court heard when the woman asked Sailor what had happened he replied: “Sorry I had to go. How are you feeling?”
She texted back: “Tristan I don’t remember anything after the Uber to mine, just need to know for peace of mind, what happened, did we have sex?”
Sailor allegedly responded: “We were playing drinking games and yes we did have sex, I asked you and (your friend) so everything was sweet.”
Sailor’s defence lawyer Richard Pontello SC said the text messages showed the exact opposite of what police were alleging. “This is totally consistent with his version of events that this was consensual,” he said.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Ryan said the 24-year-old woman was found “discarded and unresponsive by a friend” after meeting Sailor at the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi and returning with him to a Wolli Creek home.
Police allege the woman was given the sedative Doxylamine without her knowledge, and that her recollection of the evening ended after she arrived home with Sailor and her friend in an Uber.
Police allege that due to the sedative she was “incapable of giving consent”.
“The allegations before the court can be categorised as predatory and planned,” Sergeant Ryan said. “She in my submission was left and discarded in a vulnerable state.”
But Mr Pontello said the woman could have been drugged at any stage during the night by any number of people, saying there was “no evidence” Sailor had administered it.
Statements supporting Sailor from league luminaries Darren Lockyer, Paul McGregor and David Riolo were tendered to the court.
Despite noting the “very serious” allegations, registrar Cally D’Arcy granted Sailor bail, imposing a curfew and daily reporting to police.