Tim Paine sexting accuser Renee Ferguson to stand trial on multiple theft charges

The woman who sparked the resignation of the Test captain faces multiple charges of stealing from her former employer, Cricket Tasmania.

Renee Ferguson arrives at the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Chris Kidd

The woman who sparked the resignation of Tim Paine as Test cricket captain will stand trial on multiple charges of stealing from her former employer, Cricket Tasmania.

Renee Ferguson on Thursday told Hobart’s Magistrates Court she had parted ways with her lawyers and had decided to maintain a not guilty plea to charges relating to allegations she took $5600 from CT in the form of cash or memberships.

Previously, Ms Ferguson, whose publicising of a lewd photograph allegedly texted by Paine led to his resignation, had been assessed for suitability for home detention, should she change her plea or be found guilty.

However, she told Magistrate Michael Daly she had decided to continue to fight the charges. “I’m maintaining a plea of not guilty and looking to appoint new legal representation,” she said.

Tim Paine during his resignation announcement in November. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Daly told Ms Ferguson she could have taken those steps ahead of the scheduled court hearing in the already long-running proceedings.

“It seems like there has been a regrettable waste of time,” he told Ms Ferguson, who appeared via video link from a car interstate, where she now lives.

Mr Daly said the former receptionist needed to move swiftly to appoint and brief a new legal team and would need to be in Tasmania for the next hearing, set for Friday week.

He warned he was “not prepared” to further delay the matter, before bailing Ms Ferguson to appear at the next hearing.

“You’ll need to fully engage with the proceedings of this court and that will require your attendance,” he said, adding she would need to have new legal representatives “fully instructed” by Friday.

“We need to commence the preparation of this case for a trial,” he said. “You need to make this a priority. I don’t want to leave you in any doubt (about) that. There is no point instructing lawyers who can’t be here next Friday.”

Ms Ferguson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage and multiple counts of stealing.

Prosecutors allege she took $5600 from CT, mostly in cash but also in the form of a junior and platinum membership worth $705 and a Hobart Hurricanes family membership worth $339.

In separate proceedings before the Federal Court, Ms Ferguson is suing CT over sexual harassment allegations also relating to her employment at the state’s peak cricket body from 2015 to 2017. She is seeking an apology and about $900,000 in damages in the ongoing civil matter.

Paine, who quit ahead of the Ashes in November 2021 following Ms Ferguson’s publicising of her allegations, was cleared of misconduct by a 2018 Cricket Australia investigation.