Ex-AFL high flyer Andrew Lovett convicted over vicious assault of woman
FORMER Essendon star Andrew Lovett — who sold his prized footy medals to fund his alcohol and gambling addictions — has been convicted of the horrific assault of a woman who took him in while he was homeless.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORMER Essendon star Andrew Lovett — who sold his prized footy medals to fund his alcohol and gambling addictions — has been convicted of the horrific assault of a woman who took him in while he was homeless.
Lovett’s spectacular fall from grace was played out in court on Friday as he pleaded guilty to the assault, which left his victim battered and bruised.
The court heard Lovett, 35, a recreational drug user, repeatedly grabbed the young mum by the throat and threw her to the ground at a home in Rye on August 4 last year, as her baby slept nearby.
NOVEMBER, 2017: EX-AFL STAR ANDREW LOVETT ACCUSED OF TERRIFYING ATTACK ON WOMAN
The assault was sparked after Lovett accused the victim of betraying him after he went through her text messages and found she had told a friend he sold his footy medals and mobile phone to pay for booze and gambling sprees.
The court heard Lovett hurled her mobile at the floor, grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground. Every time she managed to get to her feet, Lovett grabbed her and threw her down again.
“This happened a few times,” read the police summary.
The court heard the victim hit Lovett in self-defence. The father of three then threw her to the couch and held her down.
“I was angry,” he told police. “I was trying to calm her down.”
She was left with injuries to her neck and chest.
A soft-touch Frankston magistrate on Friday let Lovett walk free with just a $2500 fine.
Lovett’s lawyer Bernie Balmer argued in court that his client was a “good citizen who made a poor decision”.
He should be spared conviction so he could pursue mentoring opportunities, he said.
But Magistrate Charles Tan refused the request, describing Lovett’s attack as a serious breach of trust.
“She (the victim) was nice enough to take him in when he needed a place to stay. There are no excuses for such a significant assault,” he said.
Lovett refused to apologise for the attack when contacted by the Herald Sun.
The former star played 88 games for Essendon from 2005 to 2009. He kicked 93 goals and received the Anzac Medal in the 2005 Anzac Day clash with Collingwood.
That medal, awarded to the player who best typifies the spirit of the Anzacs, was one of the footy honours he sold.
At the height of his career, Lovett received trade offers from Geelong, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.
He eventually moved to St Kilda at the end of 2009.
But his career crashed and burned before he could play a game for the Saints, after he was accused of rape.
He was acquitted of the charges but never played another AFL game.
Last year, he signed with the Sorrento Sharks to play in the Mornington Peninsula’s Nepean League, but quit after just five games.
The club said Lovett had “things away from football he needs to sort out”.
Lovett now lives with his mother and works in Clayton as a low-paid labourer through the Rural Aboriginal Workers recruitment agency.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league condemned the former player’s actions. “Violence is never acceptable in any form. The AFL is unequivocal in that view,” he said.