Troubled former NRL star Chris Sandow has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after being busted carrying a rifle in public, assaulting police and meth possession.
The controversial ex-Rabbitohs and Eels star was charged with one count of unlawfully possessing a category H weapon in public, assaulting and obstructing police officers, authority required to possess explosives, two counts of wilful damage, and other offences.
Sandow, 36, pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared in Queensland’s Ipswich Magistrates Court by video link last Friday.
The court heard that Sandow damaged two cars in March after throwing rocks at them in the Brisbane suburb of Riverview.
When police responded they found Sandow in possession of a rifle, ammunition, a large hunting-style knife, methamphetamine and two used glass smoking pipes.
Sandow resisted arrest and struck one of the officers in the chest during a scuffle.
Former NRL star Chris Sandow (pictured) has been sentenced to 12 months in jail
The former South Sydney and Parramatta halfback pleaded guilty to a string of charges in Ipswich Magistrates Court last week
The court heard that Sandow also left a service station without paying for his fuel.
Magistrate Virginia Ellen Sturgess noted that Sandow’s behaviour had declined in recent years.
‘There’s clearly something that needs to be addressed,’ Ms Sturgess said.
‘Certainly in your background, you’re apparently a very talented footballer in your younger years, and unfortunately, there’s been this deterioration, drugs clearly being part of that.
‘It’s clearly a dangerous thing to be out in public with a weapon, and of course, the court treats that very seriously.’
She sentenced the former footy star to 12 months jail and reactivated a 15-month suspended sentence for previous offences that were unrelated.
Sandow will be eligible for parole in March 2026 as he has already served 179 days in pre-sentence custody.
Sandow began his NRL career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2008, making an immediate impact and earning the Dally M Rookie of the Year Award.
Sandow claimed the Dally M Rookie of the Year award in 2008, capping off his debut NRL season with the Rabbitohs
Known for his attacking flair and off-the-cuff brand of footy, he played 80 games for the Bunnies, scoring 405 points, before joining the Parramatta Eels in 2012.
Over four seasons with the Eels, Sandow appeared in 75 games and added 235 points to his career tally.
However, his career was marked by several controversies.
In 2017, he was involved in a videotaped street fight in Cherbourg, Queensland.
He narrowly avoided jail and was fined $300 after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge for his role in the New Year’s Day brawl.
And in 2022 Sandow was charged with serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm, serious assault of a police officer or person acting in aid of police officer, two counts of obstructing police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving without a licence, and evasion.
He was acquitted of the charges of assaulting police, but pleaded guilty to the other offences.
In 2024, he faced court again, pleading guilty to one count each of obstructing a police officer and driving without a licence disqualified by a court order.
Magistrate Schubert handed Sandow 200 hours of unpaid community service and also disqualified him from holding a driver’s licence for two years.
He warned Sandow not to get behind the wheel during that time or risk jail time.
‘Don’t think that you can just go down to the shop to drive, because most police cars have scanners on them operating the whole time,’ he said.
‘Don’t come back before the court.’
