Joel Romelo jailed after spate of meth-fuelled crimes

Former NRL player Joel Romelo buried his face in his hands as he was sentenced over a string of ice-fuelled offences

Former NRL player Joel Romelo will remain behind bars until early 2020.

Former NRL player Joel Romelo will remain behind bars until the new year before being released on strict conditions designed to help him kick his “heinous addiction” to the “dreadful drug” ice.

Romelo, 30, has been behind bars since January and earlier this month pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering serious harm to his former partner during a violent domestic violence attack.

He also pleaded guilty to charges stemming from two police pursuits in stolen cars.

Judge Alan Woodcock on Tuesday sentenced Romelo to three years and four months jail, to be suspended after a year served.

Joel Romelo playing for Easts Tigers

Mr Woodcock said Romelo had achieved much on the sporting field and that people who had known him his whole life had vouched for his character.

“He’s from a local family, he’s a gifted athlete, he’s one of the talented Aboriginal stars that the Northern Territory contributes so heavily to the various (football) codes,” Mr Woodcock said.

“He has fallen prey to the terrible drug of ice.”

Mr Woodcock said the danger the physically powerful Romelo put his former partner in, by smashing her head onto a tiled floor, choking her, pulling her hair out, was “extreme”.

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He said Romelo’s police pursuits in stolen cars had been “building”.

“It seems this is the end game of his ice habit,” Mr Woodcock said.

“He put himself in extreme danger, the police were put in extreme danger.”

Romelo has been in and out of trouble with the law for years.

Mr Woodcock said Romelo was “no longer youthful” but “has never been before the court for sentencing of this gravity”.

“It’s not clear to me how far down the path of rehabilitation he is.”

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He said it was in the community’s best interest to see Romelo kick his drug habit, including with a stint in rehab and a year of strict supervision after his release from jail.

“Here’s his chance,” he said.

“I know it’s hard, this is a dreadful drug, it is a heinous addiction.”