- He was a flashy performer in the NRL in the past.
- His career has been marred by a series of controversies.
- He was lucky to escape prison for his latest charges.
Flashy but controversial former NRL star Chris Sandow has been warned he will be jailed if he drives his car to the shops as he appears in court once again.
Sandow began his NRL career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2008, making an immediate impact and winning the Dally M Rookie of the Year award.
Known for his attacking style and casual style of football, he played 80 games for the Rabbitohs, scoring 405 points, before joining the Parramatta Eels in 2012.
Over four seasons with the Eels, Sandow appeared in 69 games and added 235 points to his career tally.
However, Sandow’s career was marked by several controversies.
In 2017, he was involved in a videotaped street fight in Cherbourg, Queensland.
Former NRL star Chris Sandow (pictured) has appeared in court again after being charged with new driving charges following his arrest in Ipswich, Queensland.
Sandow was previously involved in a street fight in Cherbourg on New Year’s Day 2017.
He narrowly escaped jail and was fined $300 after pleading guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct for his role in the New Year’s Day brawl.
And in 2022, Sandow was charged with serious assault on a police officer causing bodily harm, serious assault on a police officer or a person acting in aid of a police officer, two counts of obstructing police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving without a license and evading.
He was acquitted of charges of assaulting police but pleaded guilty to the other offences.
Now the fallen football star has faced court again, pleading guilty to one count of obstructing a police officer and driving without a license disqualified by a court order.
And once again he was lucky to avoid jail, but was still harshly punished by Magistrate Jason Schubert.
The 35-year-old appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where the court heard he resisted arrest and shouted at bystanders to film the incident.
Sandow also continued to kick the police vehicle for several minutes after his arrest.
The court also heard Sandow drove without a license on King Edward Parade in Ipswich on October 22.
The police prosecutor told the court that Sandow was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of both incidents and asked for the sentence to be activated.
The former South Sydney and Parramatta halfback has been banned from driving for two years.
Magistrate Schubert imposed Sandow with 200 hours of unpaid community service and also disqualified him from holding a driver’s license for two years.
He warned Sandow not to get behind the wheel during that time or risk going to jail.
“Don’t think you can go to the shop and drive, because most police cars have scanners running all the time,” he said.
“Don’t come back to court.”
Mr. Sandow said news corporation He was remorseful for the incidents but happy to have escaped a prison sentence.
“Today’s result was good,” he said.
Convictions were recorded on both charges.
Sandow gave up hope of returning to the NRL and said he would now pursue coaching opportunities.