BREAKING NEWSFooty star Noah Balta escapes jail over vicious assault that could have killed his victim – but one detail about his sentence will leave AFL club furious

AFL star Noah Balta has avoided a jail sentence for viciously assaulting a man outside a club in December last year – but has been hit with a three-month curfew that will leave him unable to play any night games or star in interstate matches.

Albury Local Court ordered that the Richmond Tigers star not leave his house between 10pm and 6am for the next three months over the attack outside the Mulwala Water SkimBlub in southern NSW at 12.30am on December 30.

The 25-year-old had pleaded guilty to a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which in NSW attracts a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

He has been convicted, sentenced to an 18-month community correction order and fined $3000.

Balta is also not allowed to drink alcohol under the curfew, which expires on July 22. 

He is also ordered to not commit any further offences, stay out of the Mulawala club, complete a self-improvement program and come before the court if called. 

Balta’s attack in December last year left his victim a bloodied mess (pictured) and saw a police prosecutor tell the court that he could have died in the assault

The AFL schedule is not set from round 16 onwards, but as it stands, Balta will miss two night games for the Tigers due to his sentence, as well as one away trip to play GWS in Sydney.

A court previously heard that Balta’s 27-year-old victim Thomas Washbrook could have been killed in the attack.

‘Your Honour can see he becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half,’ police prosecutor Jason Tozer told the Corowa Local Court last month.

‘It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete.’

Balta’s defence admitted the incident was serious but argued the assault was at the higher-end of a mid-level offence. 

The prosecution argued the attack met the threshold of a high-level offence.

Character references for the AFL star described Balta as ‘a kind, caring gentle giant,’ defence lawyer Belinda Franjic said.

‘It’s quite clear this offence is completely and utterly out of character for Mr Balta,’ she told the court.

Balta had admitted drinking a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the offending and had reacted to seeing his younger brother in a confrontation, the court was told.

The player had shown genuine remorse for his actions and had sought professional help, including courses, to address the behaviour that led to the incident, Ms Franjic said.

Balta (pictured outside court last month) also cannot drink alcohol under his curfew

The AFL star had quickly admitted the assault and pleaded guilty, although he initially told police he had only punched the victim three or four times.

‘That might not have been completely accurate,’ his barrister said. 

In March, the prosecution also slammed Balta’s four-match ban from Richmond, which was sanctioned by the AFL but widely condemned by footy greats, AFL experts and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

‘The action taken by the club is so minimal as to be irrelevant,’ Sgt Tozer said.

‘The court must send a message to the community that this type of conduct is unacceptable no matter who you are.’