NRL player Tristan Sailor drugged alleged rape victim court hears
Tristan Sailor has been granted strict bail after police alleged he drugged and raped a woman in Sydney, as texts are revealed.
Emerging NRL talent Tristan Sailor drugged and “discarded” a woman during an alleged sexual assault described as “predatory and planned”, a court has heard.
Mr Sailor, 22, left Wollongong Police Station alongside his mother Tara on Sunday morning after being granted bail on several strict conditions as he faces the serious allegations.
Traces of the sedative Doxylamine were found in the 24-year-old alleged victim’s bloodstream after she was found unresponsive in her southern Sydney home last Saturday.
The son of Brisbane and St George Illawarra great Wendell Sailor was granted strict bail after being arrested on Saturday and charged with aggravated sexual assault – inflict actual bodily harm.
Mr Sailor has denied the allegations and has stated that any sexual intercourse was consensual.
Mr Sailor’s lawyers tendered five affidavits to the court including statements from Broncos great Darren Lockyer, former Dragons coach Paul McGregor and his manager David Riolo.
Police prosecutor Shannon Ryan described Mr Sailor’s alleged actions as “predatory and planned” and accused Mr Sailor of administering the drug to the alleged victim.
He said that toxicology reports had detected the sedative in her bloodstream and that there was physical evidence to corroborate her injuries.
“The allegations before the court can be categorised as predatory and planned,” he said.
“The sedative given to the complainant without her knowledge is consistent with her account and the witness was found in an unconscious state.
“She in my submission was left and discarded in a vulnerable state.”
Police say that Mr Sailor met up with the alleged victim at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel on the evening of Saturday October 3 before going to her southern Sydney home where she was later found unresponsive.
It texts which were read out to the court, Mr Sailor said that he had sexual intercourse with the victim however described it as consensual.
“What happened last night?“ the alleged victim said in a text read out to the court by Mr Sailor’s barrister Richard Pontello SC.
“Sorry I had to go, how are you feeling today?” Mr Sailor responded.
The alleged victim responded: “Tristan I don’t remember anything after the Uber to mine, just need to know for peace of mind what happened? Did we have sex?”
The court heard that Mr Sailor replied: “Sorry I was out we were playing drinking games and yes we did have sex. I asked you and (the alleged victim’s friend) so everything was sweet. I pulled out and everything so it was sweet.”
The woman went to hospital on the day following the alleged assault before reporting it to police last Monday.
Mr Sailor was granted bail by Registrar Cally D’Arcy who said that any community concerns could be mitigated.
He was released on several strict conditions including that he report to police daily, abide by a curfew, not drink alcohol and surrender his passport.
Mr Pontello said there was no proof that Mr Sailor had given her the sedative and that there were any number of “reprobates” at the venue where they met up who could have been responsible for her drugging.
Mr Pontello said that the texts were consistent with his version of events that any sexual contact was consensual.
“He asks how she is feeling,” Mr Pontello said.
Officers from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad launched Strike Force Rouget before Mr Sailor, 22, was arrested on Saturday morning when police raided the Wollongong home he shares with his parent.
It has been alleged that the woman sustained injuries during the alleged assault.
He appeared in court via audio-visual link from Wollongong Police Station where his Mr Pontello made a successful application for bail.
Mr Sailor made five appearances for the Dragons in 2019-20 however has not been offered a spot on their 2021 roster under incoming coach Anthony Griffin.
He had been earmarked as a future representative player but has struggled for game time since making his debut in 2019.
The club’s decision not to offer him a new contract angered his father Wendell who said he was “disappointed” his son had been cut.
Mr Sailor has been stood down by the NRL under their no-fault policy.
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