Former NRL star Wendell Sailor has had all his charges dismissed after his “hostile” behaviour during two drunken incidents, including one where it took nine police officers to arrest him.
Sailor has admitted to resisting arrest after a night of drinking at the Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong on December 5, 2025, court documents tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire state.
It took nine police officers to get him inside a custody area in the police station, with court documents saying he acted “aggressively” and “abused police repeatedly”.
Sailor had been on bail at the time for an incident at Pappy’s Bar in Sydney’s CBD nearly a year prior, during which he became “aggressive and agitated” with an unknown group.
“F**king call the cops and see what happens. Do you know who I am? You’re f**king done,” Sailor shouted at the bar manager after he was asked several times to leave.
He was described as being “hostile” during both incidents, court documents state.
Sailor was cleared of all charges on Friday after magistrate Jennifer Atkinson dealt with the matter under mental health legislation which allowed her to dismiss the charges under the condition he seek help to address his mental health and alcohol issues.
His lawyer Adam Houda said his client was “very pleased” with the outcome while speaking outside the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
“As you heard, (the) matters are dismissed,” Mr Houda said.
“My client is very pleased with the outcome and his unblemished record remains intact.”
Sailor’s ‘wake-up call’
Ms Atkinson spoke of Sailor’s clean criminal record and the clear link between his mental health struggles and alcohol abuse.
A psychiatric report tendered to the court noted Sailor’s increased alcohol use stemmed from a bid to stop negative thoughts, with Ms Atkinson noting he had lost his mother and had suffered a relationship breakdown.
She said Sailor had taken immediate steps to address his health following the 2025 incident.
“An inference is available that it was a real wake up call … change needed to occur, and that was taken relatively promptly,” Ms Atkinson said.
“He has certainly had a history of alcohol use that appeared to be getting worse, but as the psychiatrist indicated, in the work environment there was a culture of alcohol use and Mr Sailor’s been involved in sport and other matters for a long period.
“And importantly, it was only at the end of 2024 that matters started to appear.”
This followed submissions from the police prosecutor who expressed concern Sailor had not taken adequate steps to “address the elephant in the room, which is the applicant’s alcohol issue”.
Ms Atkinson ultimately found Sailor had already begun a “journey” towards recovery.
Charges of remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises after being asked to leave, and stalking and intimidation intending fear of physical harm in relation to the Erskineville bar incident, and a single charge of hindering or resisting police in the execution of duty over the Wollongong incident were dismissed.
Originally published as Ex-NRL star Wendell Sailor ‘very pleased’ after charges dismissed following ‘hostile’ drunken incidents
