TV star Ian Stenlake charged with verbally assaulting Sydney police

Former Sea Patrol actor Ian Stenlake has been charged with verbally assaulting and hindering two police officers.

Television and theatre star Ian Stenlake has been charged with a number of offences over an incident in Sydney’s east earlier this year during which he allegedly verbally assaulted two police officers.

The former Sea Patrol actor is understood to have laid his scooter down in the driveway of a residential property on Abbey St in Randwick about 1.30pm on Tuesday, July 20, leading to NSW Ambulance being called to the scene.

Actor Ian Stenlake has been charged with a number of offences over an incident in Sydney’s east. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But when medics arrived to assess Stenlake, 52, police ­allege he became verbally ­aggressive and abusive ­towards them, leading to cops being called.

As the two officers — a male and female — assisted Stenlake into an ambulance, he allegedly verbally assaulted them both and was subsequently ­arrested and taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital under police guard.

Stenlake, who has been nominated for a Helpmann Award and won two Green Room Awards, was released from hospital that night and taken to Maroubra Police ­Station where.

The father-of-three was there charged with two counts of assaulting police in the execution of duty, two counts of common assault and hindering a police officer in the execution of duty.

He was also issued a penalty infringement notice (PIN) for allegedly breaching Covid-19 public health orders.

After spending a night in custody he faced Waverley Local Court where he was granted bail.

Stenlake has since pleaded guilty to one of the counts of verbally assaulting a police ­officer and common assault but is fighting all other charges, including breaching Covid-19 public health orders.

Stenlake (pictured with wife Amber) has appeared in hit Australian dramas including Stingers and Sea Patrol. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Having made a name for himself on Australian TV dramas including Stingers and Sea Patrol, over recent years Stenlake has focused mainly on his stage work.

In 2018 he starred as Sam in the local production of MammaMia!

The Daily Telegraph made attempts to contact Stenlake for comment but did not ­receive a response.

A friend of the actor said Stenlake was “significantly embarrassed” by the incident, which was “exacerbated by the shut down of the enter­tainment industry and the ­effect of Covid on the whole community”.

Stenlake is due to ­return to Waverley Local Court on September 15.

NSW police said neither of the constables involved in the incident were injured.

Stenlake was married to ­fellow actor Rachael Beck for more than a decade and they had two children together.
He and wife Amber were married in 2017 and have a young child together.