‘Irish Psycho’ Tony Bates cleared of assaulting man in Paddington
Witness claims the man cleared of assaulting him, professional boxer Tony Bates, had engaged in a sexual act with him that “wasn’t great” prior to his alleged assault minutes later in Paddington.
Wentworth Courier
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A court has heard an apparent late night tryst was the catalyst to police being called and arresting professional boxer Tony Bates for possessing drugs and some stolen goods.
German student Alexander Talkenberger, gave evidence during the Irish slugger’s hearing at Central Local Court on Monday that he and the 12-0 middleweight had a sexual encounter before he said he was punched to the face.
Magistrate Clare Farnan found Bates not guilty of the assault, but found him guilty of possessing stolen goods found after he was arrested shortly after the incident.
He had pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and some stolen goods.
Mr Talkenberger gave evidence that he was engaged in intimate acts with the boxer before he claimed he was punched.
“Did you and he share a bed for some time,” Bates’ lawyer Ted Bramble asked.
“Yes and it was awful,” Mr Talkenberger replied.
The German marketing student was Skyping into the court from his home country during the hearing.
“I felt very filthy and disgusted and ashamed … she (Talkenberger’s housemate) was standing right next to me when I was giving my statement,” he explained as to why he never told police of the prior encounter.
“I had just had sex with the guy who broke into my friend’s car.”
Mr Talkenberger told the court he caught the electrician, who goes by the nickname “Irish Psycho” in the ring, leaning into his housemate’s car before he was punched twice in the face.
He also said while Bates was in his home he noticed a number of items including mobile phones and cards in different names located in a brown bag.
The 31-year-old Dubliner gave a different version of events during his evidence, instead claiming he was invited to Mr Talkenberger’s home and was told he could fetch a lighter from the car before Mr Talkenberger had in fact punched him.
“He told me he was gay, he tried to touch me and asked if I wanted some head so I pushed away and said no, I do not swing that way,” Bates said of what had happened in the apartment prior.
“I felt like I was being trapped.”
Bates had arrived in the country in the wake of the global financial crisis and previously told Irish media he came Down Under to progress his career as a professional boxer.
He had previously fought under trainer Billy Hussein’s famed gym of world champions and Olympic medallists prior to his arrest.
Bates will be sentenced on November 4.