Embattled television star Ryan Phelan has taken a lonely walk through a Sydney park just hours after fronting court for the first time over allegations he assaulted his girlfriend.
Phelan, 45, made a long phonecall as he trekked through the city’s south-east, a long way from the $2 million Frenchs Forrest home he once shared with Chelsea Franklin.
The TV personality moved out of the home he shared with the dance teacher, 44, on Saturday, June 20, after an alleged violent incident.
A day earlier The Daily Edition, which Phelan co-hosted, was axed by Channel Seven.
Phelan briefly fronted Manly Local Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to two charges of assaulting Ms Franklin.
The one-time TV hotshot appeared exhausted as he left court and hours later left his home to take a long walk, making a phone call from a park bench – having earlier got a bite to eat at a local Subway.
Embattled television star Ryan Phelan (pictured) has taken a lonely walk through a Sydney park just hours after his first fronting court over allegations of assaulting his girlfriend
Daily Mail Australia understands Phelan has been staying with a friend in Sydney’s south-east since moving out of the home he shared with dance teacher Chelsea Franklin
The 45-year-old made a long phonecall as he trekked through the suburbs a long way from the $2 million Frenchs Forrest home he recently shared with his girlfriend
Phelan briefly fronted Manly Local Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to two charges of assaulting Ms Franklin. Police have also taken out an AVO against Phelan on behalf of Ms Franklin
Phelan and Ms Franklin had been dating for close to two years and had moved into a $2 million Frenchs Forest mansion together last year
Channel 7 program The Daily Edition, which Phelan (left) hosted with Sally Obermeder, was axed by the network earlier this month
Daily Mail Australia understands Phelan has been staying with a friend in Sydney’s south-east since moving out of the home he shared with Ms Franklin.
Outside court on Tuesday morning his glamorous solicitor Claudette Chua appeared to hit out at Ms Franklin, telling media ‘false allegations’ are ‘unhelpful to women’.
‘Mr Phelan has been cooperating with police. He respects and understands that the police, and the courts, have an obligation to take any allegation of domestic violence very seriously,’ Ms Chua said.
‘False allegations of domestic violence are extremely serious, they result in the total unacceptable victimisation of the accused person, and they also are unhelpful to women everywhere.’
The former Daily Edition hired one of Sydney’s top barristers, Margaret Cunneen SC, to defend him, but was represented for his first hearing by an instructing solicitor.
Ms Franklin did not appear in court for Tuesday’s brief mention of the matter.
The matter was adjourned and will return to Manly Local Court in August.
Ms Franklin last week claimed the impact of Phelan’s sacking from Channel Seven on June 19 led an argument that saw her report him to police.
She broke down in tears last Tuesday when she spoke of Phelan being charged the previous day with attacking her in the couple’s northern beaches home.
Phelan stopped at a local Subway restaurant during his walk through the Sydney suburbs near where he is currently living
Phelan previously hosted Sports Tonight on Channel Ten, before making the move to Channel Seven where he landed roles on The Daily Edition and as a sports reader for the nightly news
The incident involving Phelan and Ms Franklin allegedly occurred on Saturday, June 20, just a day after it was announced he would be losing his job at Channel Seven
Phelan was charged on June 22 after attending a police interview at Manly Police Station. Just hours earlier he had hosted The Daily Edition and then agreed to fill-in as sports reader on the Channel Seven news at the last minute
Ms Franklin last week claimed the impact of Phelan’s sacking led an argument that saw her report him to police
Ms Franklin (pictured) broke down in tears and told of her ‘devastation’ last week after her she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend
The dance teacher told Daily Mail Australia her boyfriend’s alleged assault of her had been a ‘horrible mistake’ and repeatedly said she ‘still loves him’.
Ms Franklin said two of the couple’s daughters – both from previous relationships – were inside their Frenchs Forest home when the alleged assault occurred between 5.15pm and 5.25pm.
The incident came the day after Phelan was made redundant from his job hosting Channel Seven’s afternoon show The Daily Edition alongside Sally Obermeder.
Ms Franklin said it had been a ‘tough week’.
She had filed a complaint at the insistence of her teenage daughter, who went to the police station with her on the day of the alleged assault.
‘I’m gutted, I’m devastated, I’m shattered,’ Ms Franklin said. ‘I’ve lost my lover, I’ve lost my boyfriend – I love him.’
‘It was just a horrible mistake really, we’ve had a wonderful two-and-a-half years together, nothing like that has ever happened before.
Hours before his walk through Sydney’s suburbs the TV star arrived at court in his first public appearance since the allegedly incident
Phelan hired one of Sydney’s top barristers, Margaret Cunneen SC, to defend him, but was represented by for his first appearance at Manly Local Court by glamorous solicitor Claudette Chua (left)
Outside court Ms Chua spoke on behalf of her TV star client, saying Phelan had been ‘cooperating with police’ and slammed Ms Franklin for her alleged ‘false allegations’.
‘Obviously with what’s going on with him being made redundant and there’s a couple of other personal issues I had and he had, and I think it just took its toll.
Phelan hired top Sydney barrister Margaret Cunneen SC (pictured) to represent him, but was represented by Ms Chua on Tuesday
‘I love Ryan, he’s an amazing person… its been a tough, tough week, but he’s been an amazing person to me and I love him. It’s just a horrible mistake.’
Phelan has since moved out of the home, while his daughter is understood to now be living with her mother.
As part of his bail conditions Phelan must not assault or threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate or intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage property that belongs to Ms Franklin.
Court papers state Phelan has no history of violence and no criminal record.
Ms Franklin said she had some brief communication with her boyfriend over email on the day after the incident but did not know where he was living.
She was upset but physically all right and repeatedly said she hoped the pair could work through their issues but admitted she ‘did not know’ if Phelan felt the same.
Phelan’s girlfriend Chelsea Franklin said the impact of his sacking from Channel Seven on June 19 led an argument that saw her report him to police. She is pictured at the couple’s home
Ms Franklin told Daily Mail Australia her 45-year-old boyfriend’s alleged assault of her on June 20 had been a ‘horrible mistake’ and said she ‘still loves him’. She is pictured leaving the home she shared with Phelan the day after he was charged
Pictured: The $2.16million home Phelan and Franklin bought together in Frenchs Forest
Asked where Phelan was staying she said: ‘I have no idea.’
‘We had some emails yesterday. I don’t know if [the relationship] is salvageable right now but I’m sure he still loves me and it was just a horrible mistake.
‘I worry about him more than anything, I’m devastated. I didn’t want any of this to happen, I wanted it to be a private matter.
‘I haven’t slept all night. I wake up and I feel worse for him.’
Neighbours in the street said they had never heard any kind of disturbance at the couple’s home.
Two police officers attended Phelan and Ms Franklin’s home on June 23
Phelan’s bosses at Channel Seven reportedly had no idea an incident had occurred until after he worked on both The Daily Edition and 6pm news two days after the event.
Sunrise news reader Natalie Barr said on-air last Monday her former colleague would not be returning to TV screens.
‘Ryan Phelan won’t be returning to Seven,’ she said. ‘The network was unaware of the incident until notified last night.’
Phelan had gone about his job as usual on that Monday, even agreeing to fill in for sports reader Mel McLaughlin on the nightly news.
His Daily Edition co-host Obermeder addressed the incident at the start of last Tuesday’s show, admitting she had been ‘shocked’ by the allegations.
Phelan and Ms Franklin purchased their lavish Frenchs Forest home earlier this year (living room pictured)
‘Before we go on, I want to address Ryan Phelan’s absense from the program,’ she said.
‘Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him.
‘The Network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night.
‘We were all understandably shocked by the allegations, but as the matter is now before the courts we will not be commenting further.’
Phelan and Ms Franklin began dating in April 2018, three months after his whirlwind romance with high-class escort Samantha X (real name Amanda Goff) ended.
He will be represented by solicitor Claudette Chua when he appears in court on Tuesday.