FORMER Newcastle Knights player Zane Tetevano has no intentions of returning to the ‘‘toxic environment’’ of the NRL after he was jailed for at least nine months on Thursday for a series of attacks on his former girlfriend.
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Tetevano showed little emotion as he was led to the cells, but he returned in handcuffs later in the afternoon where he was granted bail pending an appeal to the district court against the severity of his sentence.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months after previously pleading guilty to eight charges, including two counts each of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Magistrate Ian Cheetham detailed the attacks, including instances of grabbing the victim’s singlet around her neck and throwing her across a room, punching, kicking and verbal abuse.
Tetevano smashed the victim’s phone, damaged her car and smashed other objects.
On at least two occasions she locked herself in a room to keep a drunken Tetevano at bay.
His barrister, Julieanne Levick, said Tetevano was now working 60 hours a week and had no intentions of returning to the ‘‘limelight’’ of professional rugby league.
‘‘This man has turned his life around from a very dark place,’’ she said.
‘‘From an NRL star to the very humble man who is before the court today.
‘‘He has no desire to return to the toxic environment that the NRL invites.’’
Tetevano, 24, had a dysfunctional upbringing in New Zealand, including exposure to domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse before he moved to Australia, the court heard.
He played 29 first grade games for the Knights before he was sacked in May last year.
He was later signed by Manly before they tore his contract up when he changed his pleas from not guilty to guilty for the assault charges.
Ms Levick initially tried to adjourn yesterday’s sentencing so Tetevano could finish a domestic violence program he has been completing through Relationships Australia, however Mr Cheetham said the case had already been delayed and needed to be completed. Ms Levick said Tetevano had a new partner who supported him and whom he intended starting a family with.
She said Tetevano had been diagnosed with major depression and was seeing a counsellor and a psychologist.
‘‘He wants to put his head down and work, have children and move on,’’ Ms Levick said.
‘‘It would be a travesty to send this man to jail.’’
Mr Cheetham said jail was the only appropriate sentence because of the repeated nature of the attacks.
‘‘He has expressed his anger towards [the victim] and she has suffered because of it,’’ he said.
The first attack was in November 2013 with three other episodes over the following five months.
Police obtained an apprehended violence order on the victim’s behalf in January 2014, but it was later revoked at the request of Tetevano and his then girlfriend.
The attacks continued, leaving the victim with bruising to various parts of her body.
Tetevano was sacked by the Knights when he was convicted and fined $440 for punching and breaking a taxi window.
After damaging the taxi he damaged his then girlfriend’s car before blaming her for the incident.
He then embarked on another violent rampage hours later forcing the victim to ‘‘lock herself’’ away for 15minutes until Tetevano settled, Mr Cheetham said.
Tetevano’s bail conditions include reporting to Gosford police station three days a week, surrendering his passport and lodging $2000.
The appeal will be heard later this year.
DISGRACED former Newcastle Knight Zane Tetevano has been jailed for at least nine months for four separate attacks on his former girlfriend.
Despite his lawyer arguing that Tetevano had transformed his life since leaving the ‘‘toxic environment’’ of the NRL, magistrate Ian Cheetham said the only suitable sentence for Tetevano’s offending was jail.
Tetevano was sentenced to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months.
Tetevano previously pleaded guilty to eight charges including two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
Mr Cheetham detailed the different occasions when Tetevano had punched, kicked, slapped and thrown his former girlfriend during drunken bouts of rage.
Tetevano had also smashed property and intimidated his former partner over several months forcing her to lock herself in rooms away from the former front-rower.
Newcastle Local Court heard that Tetevano had no intention of resuming his rugby league career and was now working 60 hours a week and planning to start a family with his new girlfriend.
Earlier, Tetevano had asked Mr Cheetham to delay his sentencing so he can complete a course on domestic violence.
Mr Cheetham was told that Tetevano was midway through a 20-week course with Relationships Australia and would like to finish the course before being sentenced.
