Ben Barba sentenced to community service over Townsville Casino incident

Former St Helens and NRL star Ben Barba has been sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to a charge of public nuisance. 

The news comes after an alleged incident with his parter in a Townsville Casino back in January. The altercation led to the 29-year-old being sacked by North Queensland without playing a game.

Mackay Magistrates Court were told that Barba grabbed his partner of 16 years by the throat, pinned her against a wall and charged her to the ground.

The court were also told how he used a shoe to hit her in the head during the heating incident at the Ville Casino in Queensland.

As a result of the altercation, both the NRL and Super League have blocked Barba from making a return to the sport in the future.

Barba, a Dally M Medallist, also pleaded guilty to two charges of public nuisance and one of obstructing police after an unrelated incident at his parent’s home earlier this month.

Speaking outside court, Barba said: “It’s a mistake I’ve made and I’ve paid enough. I’ve lost my whole career in this whole situation.

“I’m not saying my actions were right but what’s done is done, the only thing I can do is move forward and get on with my life.”