Shannon Grant wins prison reprieve over bashing ex-girlfriend
FORMER North Melbourne premiership star Shannon Grant has beaten a jail term despite beating his ex-girlfriend.
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FORMER North Melbourne premiership star Shannon Grant has beaten a jail term despite beating his ex-girlfriend.
Grant was to serve six months behind bars for the thuggish offending, but that sentence was today set aside and replaced with a community corrections order instead.
It comes amid revelations aired in court that Grant is facing a fresh charge relating to offending against the same former partner.
GRANT ADMITS TO ASSAULTING EX GIRLFRIEND
Grant, 41, flew into jealous rages on three separate occasions, accusing his former partner of infidelity.
He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including several counts of unlawful assault, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment by a magistrate in June.
But he appealed to the County Court immediately and was released on bail.
Sentencing Grant today Judge Susan Cohen described Grant’s behaviour as “jealous and violent”.
“I regard it of particular concern that it took three serious incidents to bring you to the realisation of the harm you were doing,” she said.
“As an admired footballer … you had a responsibility as a role model to football followers of all ages.”
But she said the incidents reflected a loss of self control rather than deliberate violence.
Grant had also shown genuine remorse, had no prior criminal history and good prospects of rehabilitation, Judge Cohen said.
“Sporting celebrity does not entitle you to any special treatment or extra leniency before the law,” she said.
“However nor does it deprive you of the benefits of principles of sentencing to which every person who comes before courts is entitled.
“You otherwise have been functioning as a responsible member of the community engaged in employment until that ceased as a result of these charges.
“The publicity in relation to your offending and appearance before court has resulted in what your counsel called extra-curial punishment. That means punishment outside what a court imposes, specifically publicity that has led to your having to leave your previous employment and with that losing your income.
“There will also be the shame inflicted because of such publicity,” she said.
Grant, a Norm Smith medallist, first attacked his former partner last June, following a dinner party at his Highett home.
The attack left the woman with bloody facial injuries and forced her to seek treatment at a hospital.
Five months later the father of three hit out again after finding text messages from another man on her phone.
Grant was arrested by police but gave a “no comment” interview.
Four days after Christmas, during a romantic weekend at a Yarra Valley winery, Balgownie Estate, Grant attacked again, after becoming enraged because he suspected his partner had been speaking to a man on Facebook.
Judge Cohen said the victim’s children, and Grant’s, were indirect victims of his crimes.
“Even when domestic violence does not directly involve children there are often indirect consequences on children,” she said.
Grant has resigned from his roles as senior coach of St Kevin’s Old Boys’ Football Club and as a football commentator for ABC radio.
The court heard he was recently charged by Queensland police with offending against his former partner.
That matter will return to court later this year.
As part of his two-year community corrections order Grant must complete 200 hours of unpaid community work, attend for judicial monitoring, and attend a men’s behaviour program if required.