Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater has been charged with breaching a restraining order on Wednesday (December 15), two months after being taken into police custody over allegations of domestic violence.
Slater was arrested in Sydney in October and charged with stalking and harassment offences, and on Wednesday, he was arrested again after allegedly breaching a restraining order, known as an Apprehended Violence Order, or AVO.
In a statement released, the New South Wales police said that Slater had been arrested at about 7:45 am local time on Wednesday after he allegedly sent 66 text messages and made 18 calls in breach of an apprehended violence order.
The police said that Slater is facing charges of contravening the restrictions set down in an AVO, using a carriage service "to menace/harass/offend" and breaching bail. A prosecutor described the messages as "harassing and highly offensive in nature".
According to the reports, the 51-year-old was taken to Manly police station on Wednesday and later appeared at Manly Local Court via video link, where the former Test cricketer was granted bail by the magistrate on strict conditions, including house arrest.
As Slater is receiving treatment for an alcohol disorder, the court has given him bail on the condition that he would not access any electronic devices, including a mobile phone, and he would check into a mental-health unit "as soon as a bed is available".
He was also barred from drinking alcohol and taking non-prescribed drugs, and if he again breaches bail, he "will be back in custody," according to the court release.
Notably, Slater's case is scheduled to return to court on December 23.
(With AFP Inputs)
