Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater has been convicted of domestic violence charges, with a magistrate describing his behaviour as "controlling".
The 52-year-old was sentenced to a two-year Community Corrections Order after beaching a domestic violence order by calling an ex-partner 100 times using WhatsApp, the court was told.
Slater was also convicted of using a carriage service to harass, stalking or intimidating and common assault at Manly Local Court this afternoon despite his legal team asking for the charges to be withdrawn on mental health grounds.
Two counts of common assault and one for attempting to stalk or intimidate relating to an incident at a northern beaches hospital in July were dismissed on mental health grounds.
The former Test cricketer was dressed in a suit and appeared emotional via audio-visual link as Magistrate Robyn Denes handed down the verdict, noting the request for a non-conviction despite his repeated offending.
"What that (non-conviction) does not do is reflect the gravity of domestic violence matters," Magistrate Denes said.
"There is an overarching public interest and that includes the value of upholding the apprehended violence order itself."
The magistrate described the convictions as "warranted" and "expected by the community", saying that repeated domestic violence offending cannot go unpunished.
Slater had a traumatic childhood, suffers from alcohol misuse disorder, and is likely diagnosed with bipolar and ADHD, the court was told.
Magistrate Denes took these matters into account, but pointed out a pattern of behaviour.
"What (these) submissions have overlooked is reflection on the offending against both women," she said.
"It (the behaviour) has been controlling in nature including accusations of infidelity, looking at their phones, managing their friends and threatening self harm".
The magistrate said that threatening self-harm puts responsibility on someone else and while it relates to Slater's fear of maternal abandonment, it is unacceptable and something she hopes he will focus on in therapy.
The court heard that Slater has a long history with engaging in mental health services, which contributed to the magistrate's decision to deliver a conviction.
"Many offenders have mental health issues but this is no excuse to divert them from the criminal justice system," she said.
Barrister John Aeigs told the court that Slater lost his career when he was "sacked from his job" as a cricket commentator which led to further complications in his life.
"As a result of adverse issues, he missed funerals of friends he played with because of his ostracisation but he is motivated to change this."
He asked that his client be spared a conviction given he was likely suffering from bi-polar during his offending.
However, the magistrate said she could not overlook the gravity of repeated domestic violence-related offending.
