New photos shed light on the events leading up to a female footy star being charged with domestic violence offences, with Maddy Studdon seen smiling at a pub with her girlfriend just a week before their relationship fell apart.
Studdon, who plays halfback for the Dragons and once captained the NSW Blues, is facing domestic violence charges after her three-year romance with Sydney real estate agent Belinda* ended in a flurry of cheating accusations.
Just days before Studdon was charged, photos show the couple smiling together at a venue, with Studdon’s arm around her then-girlfriend. A court heard about a different alleged side of their relationship days later.
Police allege the footballer, 31, became progressively ‘obsessive and fixated’ over whether Belinda, 30, was in an intimate relationship with a man – to the point where she allegedly turned up twice at her ex’s unit demanding she ‘confess’.
Court documents state that Studdon allegedly punched the side of her car and made a ‘throat-slitting’ gesture early on Tuesday morning, leading Belinda to call the police and said she feared the sports star would break into her house and kill her.
Studdon accusing Belinda of having sex with a man and allegedly sent her a barrage of messages, court documents reveal.
The court heard the football star also allegedly transferred $1 to Belinda’s bank account, writing in the description: ‘Check msgs, enjoy the d***. Can stop being suss and own up. You make me go off cause what you’re doing.
‘Didn’t need to use me jut so you could see if something else would work,’ she wrote, according to court documents.
Football star Maddy Studdon is pictured, left, with her ex-girlfriend Belinda, in a photo uploaded less than a week before their relationship broke down
Maddy Studdon is pictured playing for the Eels during a NRLW match between the Newcastle Knights and the Parramatta Eels in February 2022
Pictured: A mockup of the $1 transfer Maddy Studdon allegedly sent her ex-girlfriend
The Daily Mail does not suggest Belinda is a cheater, simply that a police statement of facts alleges that Studdon claimed she was having a relationship with a man.
Studdon allegedly sent abusive messages to Belinda on January 11, prompting her to block Studdon on social media and her phone number.
Studdon then allegedly ‘circumvented’ the blocks, according to court documents, by using a private number to call Belinda 29 times.
Videos obtained by police allegedly showed Studdon standing outside Belinda’s front door between 1.20pm and 3pm on January 12, while Belinda was at work.
She was allegedly repeatedly knocking on the door, eventually screaming: ‘You’re having f***ing sex, are ya.’
On January 13, Studdon allegedly arrived at the unit at 4am, while Belinda was staying overnight at a friend’s house.
She allegedly waited until Belinda returned home to get ready for work, before she approached her ex’s car saying, ‘f***ing face it, brah’.
‘F***ing own up, you’re a cheater … explain yourself, explain yourself, you’re a f***ing cheater.’
Maddy Studdon (pictured) dated Belinda for about three years before their relationship broke down
Pictured: Maddy Studdon’s ex-girlfriend Belinda. She now has an AVO against Studdon
When Studdon allegedly punched the car and made a throat-slitting action, Belinda called the police.
Studdon spent the night behind bars on Tuesday and was charged with stalking/intimidation with the intention of fear or physical harm (DV) and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
Police also took out an apprehended violence order against Studdon on Belinda’s behalf.
Studdon appeared in Sydney bail court from a cell at Surry Hills Police Station on Wednesday, and pleaded not guilty.
Her lawyer Javid Faiz told the court: ‘She’s played for the NSW State of Origin side from 2016 to 2019 and represented in the Australian women’s rugby league team.
‘She played last year for the Dragons and has a possible contract with North Queensland Cowboys. Why I raise that is her career has been reliant on NRL. That’s her career.
‘Any DV-related matter is serious … but there may be other alternatives to full-time jail if she is convicted.’
He said she could risk losing potential contract opportunities if she remained in custody.
She agreed to pay a $5000 surety for bail and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including that she does not access social media.
Studdon will appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre on January 21.
* Daily Mail has chosen not to name the alleged victim
