Dani Laidley’s court matter closes after completing program for drug charge

Ex-AFL star player and coach Dani Laidley’s court saga is one step closer to being over after a significant development.

A former AFL star’s court drama is one step closer to being over after she complied with all conditions ordered by a magistrate after being hit with a drug charge.

Dani Laidley, who formerly went by Dean Laidley, had been hit with three charges in May, including possessing methylamphetamine and committing an offence while on bail.

The former North Melbourne coach was sentenced to a diversion program, and the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday found the program completed, causing the matter to be closed. All charges were dropped.

She was charged on May 3 after police found a zip lock bag containing a white crystal substance in her bra.

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen in November approved Ms Laidley’s application for a drug diversion program as a consequence for the criminal charges.

He ordered that she write a letter of gratitude to police and be of good behaviour for four months.

Magistrate Vandersteen said she had no prior history and had engaged in “significant rehabilitation and treatment”.

Dani Laidley, who was then going by Dean, as Carlton assistant coach. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Upon completing the program, Mr Vandersteen said her charges would be dropped.

“Ms Laidley is contrite and well supported in the community,” Mr Vandersteen said in November.

“I don’t see it necessary to have any other conditions given her support in the community.”

While in police custody, photos of Ms Laidley in women’s attire, a blonde wig and make-up were leaked by police officers to the public.

It was not widely known beforehand that Ms Laidley, who was still going by the first name of Dean, was a transgender woman.

Three police officers — a leading senior constable, a senior constable and a constable — have been charged over the photo leak, with the matter before the courts.

Ms Laidley was also sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour order in November on a separate charge of stalking after she bombarded a woman with dozens of text messages and phone calls.

She was also accused of going to the woman’s workplace, taking a photo outside her home, ringing her doorbell in the middle of the night, calling her derogatory names, threatening to ram her with a car and leaving flowers on the hood of her car.

That matter will be closed in May 2022 if Ms Laidley follows the good behaviour order.

Ms Laidley was coach of North Melbourne from 2003 to 2009 after a star career as a player.

Dani Laidley was a star AFL player before coaching North Melbourne from 2003 to 2009.

Her run began with the West Coast Eagles in 1987 before moving to North Melbourne at the end of 1992 where she helped them take the premiership in 1996.

She was coach of North Melbourne for seven years and has since been part of coaching teams at Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton.

Ms Laidley’s lawyer Rob Stary in November said she had completed a drug rehabilitation program and wanted to use her experience to help others in the transgender community.

“That’s what she wants to do, she wants to be able to utilise that experience in a positive way,” Mr Stary said.

Originally published as Dani Laidley’s court matter closes after completing program for drug charge