NRL star Jack de Belin was enjoying a drink with teammates just hours after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman on a night out.
The 27-year-old St George Illawarra star forward voluntarily handed himself to Wollongong Police Station, south of Sydney, at about 3.40pm on Thursday.
Police allege the Dragons player sexually assaulted the teenager at a Wollongong unit on Sunday at about 1.30am.
De Belin was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault in company and bailed to appear in Wollongong Local Court on February 12.
Jack de Belin (sitting on the bench) was pictured enjoying a drink with mates, including several St George teammates at a Wollongong hotel on Sunday, just hours after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman. There is no suggestion anyone else in the photo is involved with the alleged sexual assault
It has since been revealed that just hours after the alleged assault, de Belin caught up with several Dragons teammates at North Wollongong Hotel including Kurt Mann, Euan Aitken, Jai Field, Lachlan Timm, Blake Lawrie, and Tristan Sailor, the son of former Queensland great Wendell Sailor.
Sporting a black hat, sunglasses and ripped black jeans while holding a drink, a relaxed de Belin grinned as he posed in a group photo which Sailor posted on Instagram on Sunday.
De Belin can be seen holding a can of Smirnoff Ice Double Black – a vodka drink with a tangy citrus flavoured soda.
‘Here is a few presents from Santa,’ Sailor captioned the photo.
The Daily Telegraph reported Jai Field could be a witness in the case, having spent time with the woman and de Belin earlier in the night.
There’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Field and he’s not being investigated by police.
NRL star Jack De Belin (pictured right with partner Alyce at game two of State of Origin series) has been charged over an alleged sexual assault
His long-term partner Alyce Taylor, who is 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, has deleted her social media accounts
The woman, who has given a statement to police, claims she was sexually assaulted by two football players after leaving an establishment on Crown Street, Wollongong, according to Nine News.
She claims she left the venue with a large group of people and hopped into a pedicab with de Belin and a lower grade player- thinking they were going to another venue.
The woman alleges the trio arrived at an apartment block because the two men said they needed to get changed.
She followed them upstairs as she needed to use the toilet.
The 19-year-old claimed when she came out of the toilet the two men were naked and allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Following the alleged assault, the woman told a friend and attended hospital for treatment.
The 27-year-old St George Illawarra forward voluntarily handed himself in at Wollongong police station, south of Sydney, at about 3.40pm on Thursday
De Belin has told the Dragons he denies the allegations, according to Nine News.
He also told his partner that he is innocent.
De Belin’s long-term partner Alyce Taylor, who is 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, has since deleted her social media accounts.
The alleged assault has been reported to the NRL Integrity Unit.
The St George Illawarra Dragons said they had been advised de Belin was charged with sexual assault in a statement released on Thursday evening.
‘The club is taking the matter very seriously and have been working with Jack and all relevant authorities, including the police and the NRL Integrity Unit, since this time,’ the statement said.
De Belin was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault in company on Thursday afternoon, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars
De Belin (left, with baseball cap) is seen leaving Wollongong Police Station
‘Jack has been provided with welfare support to enable him the time and opportunity to deal with the matter.’
‘As this is a police matter to be considered by the court, the club is not in a position to make any further comment at this time.’
De Belin was named in a 32-man squad due to take part in a training session on Friday under NSW coach Brad Fittler.
It’s unknown whether he’ll now take part in the training session.
De Belin debuted for the Dragons in 2011 and has played 153 NRL games in eight seasons.
He made his Origin for the NSW Blues in and played in all three games.
He is the fifth NRL player to have been charged with sexual or indecent assault in 2018 — four of them in the off-season.
Inquiries are continuing into the alleged incident.
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