Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley back in court on fresh charge

Former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley is back in court on a new charge after a police investigation into “several incidents”.

Former AFL coach Dani Laidley is back before the courts after police laid a fresh charge.

The long-time North Melbourne coach and star player is set to face court again in August.

Police spokeswoman Acting Senior Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman said the 54-year-old had been charged with breaching a court order after an “investigation into several incidents in Prahran in mid-2020 and January 2021”.

Ms Laidley, of Moonee Ponds, was bailed and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 26 this year.

“As the matter is before the court it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” Sergeant Newman said in a statement provided to NCA NewsWire.

Ms Laidley, previously known as Dean, was charged with stalking last year after she bombarded a woman with dozens of text messages and phone calls.

She was sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour order in November, and the matter will be closed in May 2022 if Ms Laidley complies with the order.

A court sketch of former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley during a bail hearing in May 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Nine News

She was also placed on a diversion program on three separate charges, including possessing methylamphetamine and committing an offence while on bail, which were all dropped in March this year after a magistrate found the program completed.

While in police custody, photos of Ms Laidley in women’s attire, a blonde wig and make-up were allegedly circulated by officers in a WhatsApp group before being widely shared on social media after her arrest.

It was not widely known beforehand that Ms Laidley was a transgender woman, with her lawyer Rob Stary explaining his client had changed her name after undergoing a gender transition.

Ms Laidley has launched legal action against Victoria Police, alleging she was exposed to “humiliation and ridicule” when officers allegedly leaked photos of her in custody.

Laidley played and coached AFL footy for more than 20 years. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

She filed a writ in the Victorian Supreme Court earlier this month, claiming she suffers and continues to suffer injury, loss and damages as a result of the officers’ actions.

Three police officers and a police custody officer are facing criminal charges after allegedly leaking photos and information about Ms Laidley in custody.

Another 11 police officers were ordered to pay her up to $3000 each in compensation for their role in distributing images and information.

Laidley’s career started as a player for the West Coast Eagles in 1987 before she moved to Victoria to play for North Melbourne at the end of 1992. She was a premiership player with the Kangaroos in 1996.

She was also coach of North Melbourne for seven years and has since been part of coaching teams at Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton.

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