NRL star Paul Carter is behind bars accused of ignoring court orders after he was convicted of domestic violence

EXCLUSIVE 

One-time NRL rising star Paul Carter is behind bars after he allegedly failed to commence court-ordered community service for domestic violence crimes. 

The serial offender was spared jail last December after he admitted spitting in his ex-girlfriend's face three times during an alcohol-fuelled night of mayhem.

Carter - who was sacked by three clubs during his playing career - had been placed on community correction orders, instead of being locked up.

But police allege Carter breached those orders by making no attempt to undergo the 140 hours of community service he was ordered to perform.

The 31-year-old, whose father is Penrith Panthers premiership winner Steve Carter, was due to face Sydney's Waverley Local Court on Tuesday but did not show up.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge issued an arrest warrant after learning Carter had allegedly not attended three community service appointments.

Carter was arrested on Wednesday and was brought back before Ms Milledge who refused him bail and ordered he return to court on Friday.

Ms Milledge said on Tuesday that despite Carter telling another magistrate in March he would report for community service, he had yet to present himself to work off any of the 140 hours. 

'Not even an hour,' she said, before issuing a warrant for Carter's arrest. 

Carter had been arrested in August 2022, two days after he attacked his former partner in his parents' home at Moonee Beach near Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast.

While being apprehended, the footballer verbally abused police officers, using the bizarre derogatory terms 'f***ot fingers b***h', 'melon-headed ****' and 'devon-head b***h'.

Carter, who was sacked by the Roosters, Titans and Rabbitohs, pleaded guilty in November to domestic violence-related common assault, contravening a restraining order and resisting or hindering police.

Waverley Local Court heard Carter, his current partner and his ex-girlfriend had gone to Moonee Beach for a family christening at the time of the assault in July 2022.

During the gathering, the victim overheard Carter and his father make a series of derogatory comments about another relative's drinking habits, according to court papers.

Carter, who played lock, hooker and second-row at his various clubs, was confronted by his ex-girlfriend and a 'verbal and physical altercation ensued'.

Court documents revealed Carter was 'enraged', saying words to the effect of 'you're a f***ing s*** [or] c***' and spitting in the victim's face approximately three times.

He then caused bruising by holding the woman's hand with 'significant force', and pushed her head, causing more bruising and swelling.

The victim left the Moonee Beach residence the next morning with a child she shares with Carter, before reporting the attack to police a day later. 

Police took photos of her injuries, which 'remained quite noticeable.'

On the same evening, police attended Carter's Randwick home in Sydney's eastern suburbs where his current partner answered the door. 

Police heard Carter call out and he became aggressive when they told him he was under arrest. 

One officer was injured while police were attempting to handcuff the retired player.

When the case came to court Magistrate Ross Hudson noted Carter had been on bail for about 16 months and had committed no offences while at liberty.

Mr Hudson also observed that 'spitting on someone is an absolutely disgusting act'.

The court heard Carter had a job in excavation and had a previous issue with alcohol.

'I am of the view … there are good reasons … not to impose a custodial sentence,' Mr Hudson said, while stressing that domestic violence 'will not be tolerated.'

Carter was convicted of each offence and placed on a 12-month community correction order for resisting police.

He was given a two-year community correction order for the AVO contravention as well as for the common assault and ordered to complete 140 hours of community service.

Carter, who played 40 NRL games across four seasons from 2014 to 2017, has had repeated brushes with the law in the past decade. 

In 2018, Carter was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine to ex-Sydney Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall at Sydney's Ivy nightclub the previous year.

When on the books of the Titans in 2014, Carter sacked after two drink-driving charges in six months.