Wayne Geber: Personal trainer to David Warner guilty of beating partner
He’s the slick personal trainer who helps keep the likes of David Warner and Peter Overton in shape. But now Wayne Geber’s violent private life has been revealed in court after he pleaded guilty to punching his then pregnant partner, spitting at her and leaving her with a black eye.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The dark secrets of an eastern suburbs personal trainer who boasts clients including David Warner and Peter Overton have been laid bare in court.
Wayne Robert Geber punched, spat at and threatened his ex-partner Helenna Haddad over a violent three years of their four year relationship.
The 47-year-old Bondi man even punched Ms Haddad in the face when she was five months pregnant with their child.
His offending is in stark contrast to the picture painted by his high profile clients in testimonies on his personal trainer website, WG Fitness Training.
TV journalist Peter Overton, who began training with Geber in 2011, described him as a “top bloke to boot” while NRL great Wendell Sailor writes: “He was there for me during my tough period away from the game”.
Cricketer David Warner, who has described Geber as a mentor, states he has trained with him since he was 17 years old.
“Whenever I am back in Sydney I always make sure Wayne and I can train together,” the Australian batsman adds.
But court documents reveal a different side to Geber.
They tell of insignificant arguments turning into full-fledged assaults, with Ms Haddad suffering injuries including black eyes and a perfused eardrum.
In one incident in January 2015, an argument over something she said to their yoga teacher set Geber off.
When the pair got home from the yoga class, Geber spat on her and put her in a headlock.
He told her “Every time you raise your voice I will spit on you” and then proceeded to spit on her.
“Pack your sh** and f*** of,” he then told her.
Ms Haddad packed her belongings and went to stay at her cousin’s house for a few days.
In another terrifying incident, when Ms Haddad was five months pregnant, an argument broke out when she supposedly didn’t inquire about Geber being sick at home.
“You didn’t want to check in with me today,” he said as she walked in the door.
“Shut up. Just shut the f*** up,” she replied.
Geber, while holding a clenched fist, retorted: “Shut up or I’ll smash you in the face.”
He then approached her and punched her in the right side of her jaw.
He was arrested in August 2019 on the 23 allegations.
To each he said: “I deny the allegation” and told the police the victim was making up the assaults to win custody of their son.
He later pleaded guilty to four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
Seventeen other counts of assault were dropped.
Ms Haddad, with whom he shares a child, sat in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday hoping to hear his case finalised.
But Magistrate Joan Margaret Baptie adjourned the matter to give Geber a chance to undergo some intervention and essentially prove he could make steps towards rehabilitation.
He will face court again on June 10.
Geber’s defence called the domestic violence-related assaults “historical” as the couple has now split up, and only interact in matters of their three-year-old son.
Geber’s lawyer asked he be put on a Conditional Corrections Order, but the court heard Community Corrections planned to suspend supervision if this occurred.
“We see so many cases (of domestic violence),” Magistrate Baptie said.
“We know this behaviour doesn’t change unless there is strenuous intervention and even then it (sometimes) still doesn’t change,” she said.
“(We) need supervision on domestic violence perpetrators.”