- Paul Kent handed two-year good behaviour bond
- Eventually pleaded guilty to one count of affray
- Followed wild street brawl outside Sydney pub in April
Rugby league journalist and commentator Paul Kent has been sentenced to a good behaviour bond after he pleaded guilty to his role in a wild street brawl outside an inner west Sydney pub.
Kent fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where his lawyer George Elias failed in a bid to have the charges dealt with under the Mental Health Act.
Kent, 54, was charged with one count of affray after he and another man were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical outside Totti’s Rozelle on April 27.
After his application for the charge to be dealt with on mental health grounds was dismissed, Kent entered a guilty plea on Wednesday.
Magistrate Jennifer Price did not record a conviction against Kent and sentenced him to a two-year good behaviour bond.
Widely-shared video showed Kent landing on his head against a tree after the brawl spilled from the sidewalk onto the street.
The court heard on Wednesday that Kent suffered six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung as a result of the incident.
Ms Price took into account that Kent was suffering from major depression disorder and alcohol use disorder at the time.
Rugby league journalist and commentator Paul Kent has been sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond after he pleaded guilty to his role in a wild street brawl outside an inner west Sydney pub in April
Sydney’s Downing Centre Court heard Kent (picture, middle) was suffering from major depression disorder and alcohol use disorder at the time of the incident
The court also heard on Wednesday that Kent suffered six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung as a result of the incident
The court heard that Kent exchanged words with the other man, who made remarks about Kent being charged over domestic violence allegations, which he was found not guilty of and were previously dismissed by a court.
Kent was stood down by Fox Sports and the Daily Telegraph after the incident.
Daily Mail Australia revealed Kent had been sacked from his commentary jobs earlier this week.
Tamer Uzun, 35, who was involved in the scuffle with Kent was also charged with affray.
He has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again later this month.
Late last year Kent was found not guilty of allegations he choked and assaulted his then-partner, a result he called a ‘vindication’.
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