Former NRL and Wallabies star Wendell Sailor has won a significant legal battle in court, but still faces multiple charges after an incident at an inner-city Sydney bar last year.
Sailor, who played 37 Tests for the Wallabies and 16 for the Kangaroos, was involved in two alleged incidents within weeks of each other in 2024.
However, the first alleged incident, involving a woman who has not been named, was finalised in court last week.
Sailor and his legal team will fight for their legal fees to be reimbursed by NSW Police after an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against the former footy star was tossed out in court.
NSW Police had sought an AVO against Sailor after an alleged incident that occurred in 2024 involving an unnamed woman.
The AVO application was taken out against Sailor by a woman at Downing Centre Local Court and was due to be heard at Downing Centre Local Court on November 13.
Sailor remains in the spotlight as he balances a courtroom victory with ongoing criminal charges
The dual rugby star faces further scrutiny despite celebrating a major legal win after months of legal uncertainty
Sailor’s lawyer Adam Houda took to social media to describe the AVO case as doomed from the start (pictured) and foreshadowed other legal action
However the matter was brought forward and Sailor’s lawyer confirmed that the magistrate had dismissed the AVO application brought forward by NSW Police.
‘Police Apprehended Violence Order application against my client Mr Wendell Sailor withdrawn and dismissed in a Sydney court this morning,’ Sailor’s lawyer Adam Houda posted to Instagram.
‘I will now apply for costs against NSW Police.
‘I warned them from the outset their case was doomed for failure. They never learn.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Houda for comment.
‘We don’t provide comment on AVO matters, nor matters that have been finalised or are before the courts,’ a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
Sailor first fronted court over the matter in 2024 where he was issued an interim AVO by Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson and ordered not to contact the woman ‘for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs’.
Police told the court at that initial hearing that they intended to push for the order to be imposed on a more permanent basis.
Sailor is pictured during the late-night scenes at Paddy’s Bar that led to his arrest and subsequent criminal charges
The former Brisbane Broncos star (pictured) has consistently maintained his innocence, dismissing the pub allegations and vowing to fight all charges
That AVO application, and subsequent dismissal, is unrelated to a host of other charges the dual international is facing after an alleged rampage at a Sydney pub just weeks afterwards.
Sailor is facing five charges, including two counts of common assault, offensive behaviour, remaining near licensed premises while excluded, and stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of harm.
The matter is listed for mention at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on December 19
Police arrested Sailor outside Paddy’s Bar on Erskine Street around 11pm on November 6, 2024.
He was later charged with two counts of common assault, intimidation, offensive behaviour, and failing to stay away from a licensed venue after being directed to leave.
‘About 11pm on Wednesday 6 November 2024, police were called to a licensed premises on Erskine Street, Sydney, following reports of an alleged assault,’ NSW Police said at the time.
Sailor has been adamant he is innocent and will fight the charges.
‘Nothing happened, mate. Nothing happened,’ he told News Corp at the time.
Police statements claimed Sailor confronted patrons, with his arrest following shortly after the Erskine Street disturbance
The bar’s manager, Jack Butcher, has given a witness statement to police.
‘He couldn’t even put a full sentence together. One of my colleagues was hiding because she was petrified,’ Mr Butcher said in 2024.
‘He was trying to start conversations with everyone.
‘I looked out the window and saw the husband and Wendell chest-to-chest and I rushed downstairs and by the time I got down there the couple [had] walked away.
‘Wendell started walking towards them and I told him to move on.
‘He got in my face and was talking and spitting [but not on purpose].
‘I wiped my face and he reached out, pushed my face and smeared the spit into my hair and face.’
