Sydney Roosters coach Anthony Barnes found guilty of assaulting police

A rugby league Jersey Flegg coach who attempted to take home his drunk friend from a south Sydney hotel ended his night in handcuffs when police got involved.

Anthony Barnes (left) with lawyer Paul McGirr (right) defended a charge of assaulting a police in the execution of their duty following a hearing at Sutherland Local Court this week. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Sydney Roosters footy coach who ended up in handcuffs after a night out with mates has been found guilty of shoulder barging a police officer.

Anthony Barnes, 58, faced a hearing at Sutherland Local Court this week charged with assaulting police in the execution of their duty.

Barnes, from Caringbah South, is the head coach of the Roosters’ Jersey Flegg team and has been involved in the club in various roles for 17 years.

He has also been with Harvey Norman in the business development team for more than 20 years.

In court, Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson found Barnes guilty and described him as “reckless” when he collided with a police officer. But she ultimately dismissed the charge.

Anthony Barnes is the head coach of the Roosters’ Jersey Flegg team and has been involved in the club in various roles for 17 years. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The court heard Barnes and a friend from Newcastle attempted to enter Caringbah Inn shortly before midnight on November 27 last year.

Barnes’ friend was refused entry due to his level of intoxication but he continued to try to enter the hotel, despite the security guard and manager asking him to leave.

The friend became a “pest” and was aggressive towards staff and other patrons.

Three plain clothes police officers were in the hotel conducting licensing duties when they noticed Barnes’ friend’s behaviour.

The magistrate found the offence proven but dismissed the charge.

The officers started to talk to the man and diffuse the situation, while Barnes walked back and forth down an entry way ramp, waiting for his mate.

On the third attempt to move his friend on, Barnes pushed or shoulder barged one of the officers.

One officer told the court he saw Barnes approach his colleagues before he dropped his shoulder and hit the officer in the shoulder region.

Barnes gave evidence and was questioned at length about his level of intoxication, claiming he only had five mid-strength beers over eight hours.

He told the court he was only trying to get his friend to move away.

Barnes denied he intentionally shoulder barged the officer, but conceded he may have touched someone when he went to grab his friend.

Ms Atkinson said the evidence from two police officers was generally consistent.

She found Barnes’ collision was not intentional but was rather reckless, nevertheless constituted an assault.

Ms Atkinson found the offence proven beyond reasonable doubt however noted the collision was only a “slight touch” and “objectively had to be at the lowest level of objective seriousness”.

She noted Barnes was a person of good character and accepted he was trying to pull his mate away from the situation before she dismissed the charge with no penalty.

A Sydney Roosters spokeswoman said the club was made aware of a matter involving Anthony Barnes” which was to be heard before the courts”.

“The matter has now been dealt with by the courts and the club will be making no further comment,” she said.