Shaun Kenny-Dowall: Jessica Peris sent Roosters star explicit text messages during relationship

JESSICA Peris and Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall exchanged graphic texts about the “vigorous nature” of their sex life, a court heard.

NT Senator Nova Peris (left), and her daughter Jessica Peris (centre), arrive at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Sydney Roosters NRL player, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, is accused of assaulting, stalking and destroying the phone of his former girlfriend Jessica Peris, the daughter of Senator Nova Peris. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

THE alleged victim of seven domestic assaults by NRL star Shaun Kenny-Dowall was ­offered a $20,000 car from a “third party” before she made complaints to the police.

Downing Centre Local Court yesterday heard that Jessica Peris was negotiating with Kenny-Dowall’s football club, the Sydney Roosters, in the three weeks after he booted her out of his Maroubra unit in June, 2015, but before she went to police.

Peris, daughter of Federal Labor Senator Nova Peris, was allegedly offered a $20,000 Range Rover belonging to Kenny-Dowall and other “property” by a third party but not the New Zealand rugby league international directly.

Jessica Peris claims Shaun Kenny-Dowall caused her physical injury and repeatedly kicked her out of bed one violent night. Picture: Mark Evans

Magistrate Gregory Grogin said there was no suggestion any offers made during negotiations between the Roosters and Ms Peris would have dissuaded her from going to the police.

Kenny-Dowall, who has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, took the stand yesterday afternoon where he denied physically abusing Peris. He told the court violence against women was “completely unacceptable”. He admitted grabbing her arm during an alleged incident in October, 2014, but denied pinning her against a wall.

Kenny-Dowall and Peris exchanged 40,000 texts in one month — and some were explicit and used graphic language. Picture: Mark Evans.

“She attacked me and tried to obtain her phone back,” he told the court.

He also denied he ever headbutted, kicked or put Peris in a headlock as she claimed in separate incidents.

Peris wrote to Roosters CEO Brian Canavan on June 30, 2015, asking for accommodation and the use of a car for six months as well as one month’s income of an unspecified amount.

The court heard the club offered her accommodation and a car for a month. Not satisfied with the offer, Peris then went to police.

Jessica Peris, pictured with Kenny-Dowall, admitted using cocaine the night before one of the alleged bashings.

However, she denied she would have not done so if the club had given her what she wanted. In a letter tendered to court Peris claimed the Roosters player liaison officer Cathy King dissuaded her from going to police because “they will leak it to the media”. Peris admitted she laid her complaints ­because she did not receive “material support” from her former partner or the Roosters.

“You were trying to see if you could get material support out of either the Roosters, my client or both,” Kenny-Dowall’s lawyer Ian Temby QC said. “Yes sir,” Peris replied.

“Not until you found out no material support was forthcoming that you went to police,” Mr Temby said.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall, paid $10,000 to help Peris move to Sydney in 2014 but would not help her with past debts.

Peris was given accommodation and use of a car by the Roosters after separating from Kenny-Dowall.