Former star batter turned TV star Michael Slater has walked free from a Queensland court after being sentenced to four years in jail, partly suspended, after pleading guilty to seven charges including domestic violence.
The 55-year-old former opener for Australiawas facing allegations of assault, burglary, strangulation and stalking over multiple incidents involving a woman in Noosa over several months in 2023.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault, one of unlawful striking, assault occasioning bodily harm, burglary by break at night, and two counts of strangulation.
Judge Glen Cash passed the sentence but partly suspended it for time served as Slater had spent more than a year in custody after being refused bail over the offences, meaning the former cricketer will walk free.
The remainder of Slater's sentence is suspended for five years, during which he will risk being returned to custody if he commits another serious offence.
Cash also had a blunt message for the ex-Channel Nine star.
Michael Slater (pictured outside court in Noosa, Queensland) has been sentenced to four years in jail after pleading guilty to charges including domestic violence
The former Test opening batter and Channel Nine star (pictured while commentating for Nine in 2013) was branded an alcoholic by Judge Glen Cash
'It's obvious, Mr Slater, that you are an alcoholic,' Cash said in Maroochydore District Court on Tuesday, according to the ABC.
'Your rehabilitation will not be easy. Alcoholism is part of your make-up.'
The prosecution in the case said Slater deserved a sentence 'in the order of' five years in jail, with parole after three years.
Slater's lawyer Greg McGuire argued that his client should receive a three-year stint behind bars and be paroled immediately.
'He wishes to go back to New South Wales, where members of his family reside,' McGuire told the court.
'Whether he gets better is entirely up to him. He has been without alcohol for a year.'
Slater was arrested in April last yearand had been behind bars ever since.
His offences against the woman - who he had been romantically involved with - saw him facemore than a dozen charges, including enter dwelling with intent by break at night, choking, assault occasioning bodily harm, stalking and breaching bail.
Slater (pictured after scoring a century for Australia in 1999) has gone from one of the country's most famous sportsmen to facing a tough rehabilitation battle
They were all alleged to have occurred between December 5, 2023 and April 12, 2024.
Police alleged Slater sent hundreds of messages to the woman where he called her a 'c**', 'escort', 'liar' and 'sl*t' several times and threatened to take his own life.
It was further alleged that Slater accessed the woman's CCTV camera on the front porch of her house on March 17 last year, turning it around to face into her home.
The woman was allegedly alerted through an app on her phone while she was speaking to officers at Noosa Police Station.
Slater was further alleged to have smashed a window to gain access to the woman's home and assaulted her by grabbing her arm.
It was alleged he also choked her on two different occasions.
Bail was ultimately refused last August by Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn, who noted Mr Slater had a history of domestic violence.
'The offences alleged are supported by some evidence, and are sustained and persistence,' Justice Freeburn said.
'The risk of further or continued offending cannot be ignored.'
Justice Freeburn said Slater had a long history of mental health conditions and had been diagnosed with ADHD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, alcohol use disorder and borderline personality disorder.
The court was told Slater had a criminal history for offences of obstructing police, common assault and stalking, among others.
Last May Slater had his name removed from an oval that was named after him in his childhood home of Wagga Wagga, NSW.
The former Channel Nine commentator played 74 Tests for Australia in an eight-year career, scoring 5312 runs and 14 centuries in the long form of the game.
He also starred in 42 one-day internationals for his country.
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