Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown is “not proud” of his drunken behaviour at a Sydney nightspot when he groped a woman twice, after drinking so much he could not speak to his lawyer following his arrest.
The 23-year-old NRL player pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two charges of unwanted sexual touching.
“I am not proud of the behaviour I displayed, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said in a statement after entering the guilty pleas in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
“Additionally, I want to apologise to everyone connected to the club for the negative impact that this incident has caused, and I am committed to learning from this experience.”
Brown was at a Double Bay nightspot on June 3 when he groped a woman on both breasts. The two counts Brown pleaded guilty to were dealt with under a community corrections order for the next 18 months. Three other charges were withdrawn.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said Brown’s behaviour, outlined in court, is unacceptable and against the club’s expectations.
“The club will continue to support Dylan and work with him as he learns from this experience,” Mr Sarantinos said.
The NRL suspended Brown under its no-fault stand down policy, which no longer applies following the finalisation of criminal proceedings.
Its integrity unit will conduct a review, the NRL said in a statement.
Brown and the woman he groped do not know each other, and he had never spoken to her before he grabbed one of her breasts on the dancefloor, agreed facts filed with the court and seen by AAP state.
This made her uncomfortable, however she felt significantly more uncomfortable when Brown returned and grabbed her other breast less than 30 seconds later.
She told security and a friend who worked at the venue and Brown was arrested outside.
Taken to Waverley police station, he was placed in an “investigative time out”.
When his solicitor David Newham arrived, Brown was too drunk to speak to him.
“Mr Brown is deeply sorry for what he did but the matter is now over and he wishes to move on,” Mr Newham said outside court on Wednesday.
Brown has played 95 NRL games for the Eels since joining in 2019 and five international games for his native New Zealand.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The way this season has panned out , it could be the Eels best chance to win a title since 1986 but a couple of players have done their best to bugger it up. First Mattherson stood himself down for a few games which the club narrowly lost and now Brown has hit the turps and stuffed up. The Eels have replaced the players they have lost in the off season much better than most of us have expected and with a full squad they could easily be hitting the finals in great shape to win the thing. Brown is a vital cog in that plan.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
But he's a Kiwi :laughing:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think you will find that the current Government had raised the bar on deportation quite a bit . Perhaps if he was a mass murderer.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think you misunderstand me. I actually think the court sentence is light on. But taking time to plead guilty ? Nah, I can't take issue with that. But I absolutely , definately do not think intoxication is a mitigating circumstance.
Grem
Roar Rookie
If you were being sarcastic, then I didn’t pick up on it at first and if you weren’t, I’ll stand by the first reply.
langparker
Roar Rookie
just showing my age, compare the pair is an advert about super fund performance which I think is apt when the NRL assigns any penalty, bank robber was an analogy that obviously didn’t work. The crowd who piled on Walsh are still conspicuous by their absence. What’s your thoughts on the pay issue, seems wrong to still be entitled to the big bucks while being out for a criminal offence. Then again, it’s a sportsperson. I notice that an AFL player on theft charges is still suiting up for the Richmond Tigers this weekend.
Grem
Roar Rookie
You might think so, but few other people would. As if he couldn’t remember an incident like that and who knows how much he had to drink. That’s another classic excuse people use when they do the wrong thing. More like – I was called out, reported and arrested for committing a criminal act and if I play dumb and say I remember nothing it might just work out. Didn’t Alan Bond use the “I can’t remember” defence many years ago? It didn’t work for him either. He was hoping to get away with it and was caught out by cameras – now he expresses his sorrow (for being caught).
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s not the worst idea…
andrew
Roar Rookie
So what's the NRL'S integrity department's penalty? Haven't heard boo from them.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
An idea I heard was one game for every month of his community sentence, so 18 games, and it's a rule that could be applied to others who receive sentences like this and you know what? I don't hate it...
langparker
Roar Rookie
No, not aimed at you TB but there are a few regulars notable by their absence on this thread who laid into Walsh as if he should have been put in stocks outside Suncorp & pelted with tomatoes. I see MMH, Panther, steveng & a few others are laying low on this news. What has got up my nose in the past are those players charged with offences during the season who use their lawyers to get adjournments while professing innocence then in the off season quietly change their plea.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
What's the bet he's playing in a couple of weeks. If Parra had any standards they'd invoke their own punishment ahead of the NRL Integrity Unit. I wonder if he's an Australian citizen and whether he's in danger of deportation?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Mmmm the guy is peed as a Newt . He has absolutely no idea what the f he has done but when he sees the evidence he pleads guilty. Sounds reasonable to me .
The Barry
Roar Guru
Is that rant aimed at me…? I suggested the rest of this season as a minimum… Just because Brown is guilty of something doesn’t mean Walsh is innocent. I really don’t have a clue what you’re on about with bank robbers and tv ads…
langparker
Roar Rookie
Let’s hear from all the ‘do gooders’ now praising him for accepting responsibility for his actions, it’s not like he’s a Reece Walsh & needs to be taught a lesson. Bit like the bank robber caught at the bank door wearing a balaclava & carrying the shotgun, he didn’t appear to have much choice. If Brown plays again in 2023 I’ll be flabbergasted, it’s sexual assault FFS! Maybe V’landys can let him finish the season & serve any suspension during the off season “for the fans” because that’s his style when it suits. As the advert says “compare the pair”, 3 weeks for allegedly swearing at a ref, ? for two counts of sexual assault. Good to see Parramatta are going to rally around Brown & give him support, he’ll feel like he didn’t really do it in no time. Should he be entitled to be paid during any suspension for this type of offence, that seems ludicrous.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So what’s the right suspension now? Rest of this year at a minimum? Take it up to 12 months? Longer…?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, that stood out to me. “Not proud”, no sheet… what a weak way to respond
mushi
Roar Guru
Yep the tone deaf comments of his lawyer don't have the aura of "taking responsibility "
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Be fair Tony, it not like Brown's the one who came up with the words.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
Shouldn't he be "ashamed" rather than "not proud"?