- Dec 27, 2017
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- North Melbourne
Tarryn Thomas harassed ex while in men’s behaviour course
Rebekah Cavanagh
4–5 minutes
Tarryn Thomas called his ex-girlfriend to breathe heavily down the line in a series of calls made while the former Kangaroos rising star was midway through a men’s behaviour course.
Disgraced former North Melbourne midfielder Tarryn Thomas was in the middle of a men’s behaviour program when he harassed his ex-girlfriend with a series of menacing calls.
Dressed in an all-black ensemble featuring a Louis Vuitton belt, the 24-year-old faced a number of charges at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he avoided a conviction after pleading guilty to domestic violence offences.
The court heard Thomas’ ex-girlfriend ended their year-long relationship in January.
But his lawyer, Sally Vardy, said after seeing her at a music festival in late-March it “triggered in him a feeling of loneliness”.
The once promising midfielder proceeded to call her 34 times between April 5 and 29, with his victim only answering six of those calls.
She told police he would breathe heavily down the line, with no verbal threats made.
The court heard Thomas still hopes to make a return to the footy field. Picture: David Geraghty
Some of the calls occurred while he was completing a men’s behaviour program, which started on April 15 and was a condition of his sanction from the AFL.
Despite multiple attempts to help Thomas, who is also known as Tarryn Trindall, following a series of court appearances for driving and intimidation offences last year, the football club axed him in February.
His contract was terminated and the AFL suspended him for 18 matches after finding him guilty of breaching its code of conduct.
Ms Vardy said her client’s mental health was in a “period of deep decline” at the time of his latest offending after losing his job as a professional footballer.
She said he had reached out to the North Melbourne Football Club’s doctor in November last year with mental health struggles and was put on antidepressants.
“He remains medicated,” she said.
She said Thomas has a desire to return to professional football.
Asked by magistrate James Henderson if he had been signed up to next season, she said: “Not at this point.”
“Mr Trindall received a sanction, which required him to complete a men’s behaviour program,” she said, adding how he had now finished that.
Tarryn Thomas in action for the Kangaroos in 2023. Picture: Getty
“Whilst it was mandated, it is something that he has done wholeheartedly.
“It’s ultimately a matter for the powers at be whether he is to return to the field or not.”
She said he was a changed man since undergoing the program, which focused on accountability, violence and cultural understandings.
He has “genuine remorse” for his offending and has learnt to be “less reactive”, she told the court.
His mental health is stable, she added, and he now sees a psychiatrist and psychologist, has stable housing and support of family and friends.
She told the court he also goes to church and has a strong connection to his culture.
Ms Vardy pressed His Honour to punish him with a good behaviour bond without conviction, saying he had “very strong prospects of rehabilitation”.
The prosecution made no submissions as to what an appropriate sentence would be.
Mr Henderson told Thomas it was “a serious offence” but took into consideration his early guilty plea, the supports and treatment he has in place, in releasing him on a 12-month undertaking.
Thomas made a promise to the court he would be of good behaviour for the next year, and continue treatments to better himself.
He made no comment as he left the court.
Tosser. Probably an Andrew Tate fan.
