Sports journalist Paul Kent pleads not guilty to domestic violence charges

A prominent rugby league journalist has pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges allegedly involving a woman at his Sydney home.

Paul Kent outside Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Sports journalist Paul Kent will have to wait more than six months to fight domestic violence charges following an alleged altercation with a woman at his home.

The 53-year-old Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports rugby league journalist is fighting allegations he attacked a 33-year-old woman at his home in Lilyfield on Friday following an alleged domestic dispute.

NSW Police charged Mr Kent with common assault and intentionally choke person without consent, but indicated in court on Wednesday a more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm will be laid against him.

“It’s alleged a 33-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man, who is the occupant of the home, were involved in an altercation before she was allegedly assaulted,” a NSW Police statement said.

Sports journalist Paul Kent is fighting allegations of domestic violence on a 33-year-old woman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Officers attended and initially arrested both Mr Kent and the woman, but she was released without charge.

The 53-year-old sat in the public gallery of Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday as his lawyer entered pleas of not guilty.

A police prosecutor told the court an additional charge of common assault occasioning actual bodily harm will be laid.

The court heard a mini brief of evidence was ready, but Magistrate Michael Maher made orders for the brief to be served by November.

The court was told there were three witnesses for the prosecution, including the alleged victim, who stood at the back of the court when the matter was mentioned.

The 53-year-old pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Kent’s lawyer told the court there are intended to be three witnesses for the defence during the full-day hearing.

The hearing was set down for two days in December and Mr Kent’s bail was continued.

Outside court, Mr Kent told reporters he was looking forward to the “full story” to come out.

When asked what his employers thought about the charges, Mr Kent said “they fully support me”.

“I’m embarrassed about it, but unfortunately it’s beyond my control so I’ll just let the court process see its way through now and once we get to the end then we can hopefully see some things through different eyes,” he said.

“It’s the rugby league soap opera, it’s the way it rolls…that’s fine, people are entitled to their opinions and we’ll get to the end of it and everything will be OK.”

The 53-year-old has been temporarily stood down from his roles as a senior writer for The Daily Telegraph and host of Fox Sports show NRL 360.