Tom Williamson pleads guilty to stalking a woman between July and October 2022 with the intention of causing her harm or fear

The abrupt end to former Blue Tom Williamson’s footy career came while he was being investigated for stalking and harassing a woman, it can be revealed.

Former Carlton player Tom Williamson at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Picture: David Crosling

Former Carlton player Tom Williamson stalked and harassed a woman around the time his career came to an ­abrupt end.

The Herald Sun can reveal Williamson’s sudden departure from The Blues’ in mid-2022 came amid a criminal investigation into his off-field behaviour.

The 24-year-old, who played 44 games during his AFL career, was charged by police with serious ­offences, including stalking a woman by calling and messaging her from newly created Instagram and TikTok accounts after she “requested she be left alone and continued to block each account”.

Charge sheets allege he stalked the woman between July and October 2022 with the intention of causing her harm or fear.

Williamson played 44 games during his AFL career. Picture: Michael Klein

Williamson is also accused of using a carriage service to harass.

One charge states he called his victim 13 times and texted twice over the course of 10 days.

His fall from grace played out in the Melbourne ­Magistrates’ Court last week where he pleaded guilty to all charges.

The court heard the ex-AFL player now works in maintenance at Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ararat’s medium-­security prison.

He escaped conviction over the charges after Magistrate Cecily Hollingsworth found he had made genuine ­attempts to better himself.

Williamson pleaded guilty to all charges at court last week. Picture: David Crosling

That included taking part in a 12-week men’s behavioural change program and ­counselling.

The court heard the sessions addressed “communication issues” faced by Williamson and helped him “implement strategies” in his current relationship.

“This is very serious offending and you lost your football career as a result of that,” Ms Hollingsworth said.

“You are lucky. You’ve got a lot of support around you with friends and family and to your credit, you have undertaken counselling and a men’s behavioural change program.”

Williamson was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to donate $2000 to the court fund, which distributes to charities such as the Salvation Army.

Ms Hollingsworth warned the former AFL player he faced tougher consequences if he reoffended in the year ahead.

“You are in a unique position where you know what prison life is like. You’d be looking down the barrel of going to jail (if you reoffend),” she said.

Williamson was the number 61 pick in the 2016 AFL draft.

In an interview earlier this month, he said he walked away from AFL to focus on his mental health.

Williamson now plays in his hometown for the Ararat Rats and is a senior coach.

Ms Hollingsworth implored him to share the teachings of the men’s behavioural change program with other young men in his community, particularly the local football club.