Sacked TV presenter James Hooper had a ‘come to Jesus moment’ after crashing his ute while driving more than five times over the limit: he had been drinking since age 13 and had to stop.
Hooper lost his high-profile job as chief rugby league reporter at Fox Sports following the crash about six weeks ago and has since attended 45 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
The 47-year-old pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving when he made his first appearance in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.
The court heard Hooper had slammed his Ford utility into three cars parked in Allen Street, Leichhardt, in the city’s inner-west about 7.30pm on July 31.
CCTV footage of the incident, which appeared to have been taken from a camera attached to a house, showed sparks flying at the moments of impact.
A member of the public called Triple Zero and police found Hooper nearby.
Sacked TV presenter James Hooper had a ‘come to Jesus moment’ after ploughing his ute into three parked cars while driving five times over the legal alcohol limit. He is pictured outside court on Monday
Hooper lost his job as Fox Sports chief rugby league reporter following the crash about six weeks ago and has since attended 45 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
He returned an initial positive test for alcohol then recorded a breath analysis of 0.253 at Newtown police station.
Hooper’s solicitor Paul McGirr told the court the reading was ‘extremely high’ and had led his client to experience a ‘come to Jesus moment’ about his troubled relationship with alcohol.
Mr McGirr said Hooper had been drinking since he was 13 and ‘alcohol has been a problem never properly addressed’, which ultimately could have landed him in jail.
‘He is headed in the direction if he wants to continue with this behaviour of going to the big house,’ Mr McGirr said.
‘He is not a person who should be drinking, especially in the job he has.’
Hooper was supported in court by counsellors Jan Earl and Lani Rigby from Elite Athlete Wellbeing Services, a group founded by Ms Earl – the mother of former NRL winger Sandor Earl.
Mr McGirr said Hooper had been diligently following a rehabilitation plan the service devised, including treatment for mental health issues such as depression.
Hooper had been working in a soup kitchen at Woolloomooloo, provided the court with a letter of remorse and completed a traffic offenders program.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of not providing particulars to the owners of the vehicles he hit, who were not present when their cars were damaged.
Hooper had tracked down the owners and hired them cars while theirs were off the road, and paid $75,000 for repairs.
Hooper was supported in court by counsellors Jan Earl (left) and Lani Rigby from Elite Athlete Wellbeing Services, a program Ms Earl founded
Solicitor Paul McGirr (right) described Hooper (left) as a ‘very well-known journalist’ who wanted to return to the media industry
‘There’s not really more he could have done in respect of this,’ Mr McGirr said.
Mr McGirr described Hooper as a ‘very well-known journalist’ who wanted to return to the media industry.
He commended Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley for remaining loyal to Hooper by providing support which included a written reference.
It was Crawley who confirmed Hooper’s employment had been terminated when he was charged with drink driving after a history of alcohol-related problems.
‘James has been a great contributor since he joined us in 2016, but he’s also battled some significant personal issues from time to time,’ Crawley said at the time.
‘In speaking to him today, James also acknowledges that things need to change for him.’
Hooper, who quit his job at Triple M in the wake of the charges, said after his arrest: ‘I’ve let the game of rugby league, my employers, my wife and kids down terribly.
‘Clearly I’m not handling the tough side of the job. Hopefully this is the punch between the eyes that will set me straight.’
Mr McGirr commended Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley or remaining loyal to Hooper (above) by providing support which included a written reference
In July 2017, Hooper was fined $400 and lost his licence for three months after pleading guilty to low-range drink-driving. Two years later he was arrested for drink-driving in rural Victoria.
In 2018, Hooper was found passed out on the bonnet of a car in Maroubra after a drinking session in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
He was accused of destroying or damaging property but the charge was eventually withdrawn.
The police prosecutor did not wish to be heard by magistrate Christine Haskett after Mr McGirr had presented written material on Hooper’s behalf and made his final submissions.
Ms Haskett imposed an 18-month community correction order on Hooper, which came with a conviction and $2000 fine.
As part of that order Hooper will be required to continue following the treatment plan tailored for him by Elite Athlete Wellbeing Services.
Ms Haskett disqualified Hooper from driving for six months and recorded a conviction for not giving his particulars at the scene of the crash, without imposing a fine.
Outside court, Mr McGirr said Hooper had learnt from a grave mistake but still had ‘a mountain to climb’.
‘He’s happy to have the matter finalised,’ McGirr said. ‘Alcohol can be a problem like anything else.
‘He’ll move on, get on with his life and hopefully get into doing what he does best – being a journalist who’s not afraid to speak his mind, which is to his credit.
‘He’s learnt from this, he’s had as I called it his come to Jesus moment, and in that particular respect he wants to move on.’
Hooper began his career as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph then moved to Fox Sports, where he featured on programs such as NRL 360 and as a sideline commentator.
His work spanned television, online, radio and print, making him one of rugby league’s most prominent voices.
