An NRL star will admit to sexually touching a woman without her consent at a popular Sydney hotel.
Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday morning over allegations he touched a woman’s breast without her consent at the Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay on June 3.
He was charged with five counts of sexually touching the woman without consent and was granted bail.
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The 23-year-old entered the building shortly before 9.30am on Wednesday, but he didn’t walk into the courtroom until two hours later.
Defence solicitor David Newham told the court that his client intended to plead guilty to two of the counts, while the remaining three charges are going to be withdrawn by police.
At a previous court hearing, Mr Newham told media he reviewed CCTV footage of the alleged incident at Bondi Police Station.
“It does not support the notion that on five separate occasions Mr Brown has approached this young woman and with both hands has touched both of her breasts,” Mr Newham said.
“It does not support that at this point in time.”
Mr Brown’s bail conditions state he cannot enter any licensed premises in the Double Bay area.
According to court documents, police allege Mr Brown touched the woman’s breasts between 11.19pm and 11.20pm on Saturday night.
Mr Brown, who was born in New Zealand, has played 95 games for the Eels since making his debut with the team in 2019 when he was just 18.
Once the news was made public, the NRL exercised their discretion under their “no fault” stand-down policy to sideline Mr Brown.
“The Parramatta Eels have been informed by the NRL that Dylan Brown has been stood down from team selection as part of the NRL’s no fault stand down policy regarding the (alleged) incident this past weekend,” the club said in a statement at the time.
“Dylan will not be eligible for selection until he receives clearance from the NRL.
“Out of respect for the legal process now under way, the club will not be making any further comment at this time.”
