Police charge Manly star Brett Stewart with sexual assault

Manly star Brett Stewart has been charged with the sexual assault of a teenage girl following a booze-fuelled season launch on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Stewart has been under police investigation after being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl following the team function last Friday at the Manly Wharf Hotel.

Police said the 24-year-old full-back had been chatting with the 17-year-old about 8pm (EDT) on Friday outside his apartment block in North Manly before she was allegedly assaulted.

Stewart was arrested a short time later, but declined to be interviewed and was released without charge.

But at 6pm (EDT) on Tuesday Stewart, dressed in a suit, arrived at Dee Why police station, accompanied by Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler and his lawyer Geoff Bellew.

An hour later, the Australia representative was formally charged with sexual assault.

Following this, Hasler drove Stewart, his head down, away from Dee Why police station.

Neither made a statement to the waiting media.

Stewart, who before the incident was to be the face of the NRL this season, has been granted bail to appear at Manly Local Court on April 7.

In a brief statement to reporters outside Dee Why police station, Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford said police had “reached the stage where it was appropriate to charge the 24-year-old”.

“They have done that and the matter is now before the court,” he said.

He would not say whether the Sea Eagles star had provided a statement or been interviewed, and would not comment on any evidence, including DNA, against Stewart.

“I’m not going to be drawn on a position to discuss any evidence that will be presented,” he said.

“There will be a brief of facts presented to the court on the 7th of April.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Stewart appeared in Manly Local Cour, when Magistrate Margaret Quinn extended an apprehended violence order (AVO) issued by police after Friday night’s alleged assault.

The order bans Stewart from approaching or contacting his alleged victim, who lives in the same apartment complex as the footballer.

Stewart’s lawyer Geoff Bellew said the AVO did not prevent his client from returning home.

“If he wants to (go home) he could but he doesn’t want to,” Mr Bellew told AAP.

“He’s moved away from there.”

The Sea Eagles, the NRL reigning premiers and world club champions, are facing calls to stand Stewart down over the incident, but have named him in Saturday’s side to take on the Bulldogs.

It has been a week from hell for the northern Sydney club, with Manly Police also looking into an incident involving Australian international Anthony Watmough.

Watmough has been accused of punching a sponsor after the man told him off for harassing his daughter at the club’s season launch.

“He punched me. It wasn’t a slap. It was a punch,” the sponsor told Fairfax radio.

“He was just being … I don’t want to get into the wording. It was not very nice.

“She is a young 21-year-old, very attractive lady and she did not need to be spoken to the way he was speaking to her.

“He was just very rude and that’s what sparked me to get up and then he hit me.” The sponsor said he told Watmough to calm down and sit down but “he just wouldn’t take that as an answer”.

It is not Watmough’s first incident involving a female, he was slapped with an apprehended violence order in June 2007 by his ex-girlfriend.

Watmough’s former partner Gillian Rixon had accused him of a string of violent attacks during their seven-year relationship, claims denied by the player.

That AVO was removed four months later as both parties reached a written agreement.

The latest claims further tarnish the Sea Eagles’ shattered off- field reputation, with the NRL set to heavily sanction the club in the coming days.

Adding further concern is the admission by club co-owner Max Delmege who said there was “limited” food and an “open bar” at the function and that “in retrospect, I think our events manager picked the wrong venue.”

Manly police are continuing to investigate the alleged Watmough assault, and the sponsor has urged the club to punish the 24-year-old for his actions.

“I think there needs to be a little bit of discipline and a little bit of reprimand, otherwise they think they can do whatever they like,” he said.

The sponsor said he would continue to be a supporter and sponsor of the Sea Eagles, but was yet to decide whether to press charges against Watmough.