‘Patrons in fear’ of Raiders hooker

CANBERRA Raiders rising star Tom Starling was so violent towards a female and three male police officers at a Central Coast restaurant that patrons would have feared for their safety, police allege in court documents.

Starling (inset), 22, is one of four men, including his brothers Jackson and Josh, charged over a late night drunken scuffle at Shady Palms restaurant in Avoca last month. His charges include five counts of assaulting a police officer, affray and resisting an officer.

Starling was not required to attend Gosford Local Court yesterday when Shady Palms handed over CCTV footage of the fight. Police body-cam footage of the scrap has also been tendered to the court.

Despite granting bail after he spent that night in lock-up, police had concerns Starling would fail to show up to court and may “endanger” victims and the community, court documents show.

“The incident involves violence and occurred whilst the accused was intoxicated,” police said. “The accused was aggressive towards security and police.”

Bail was granted due to his clean criminal record.

He agreed to drink alcohol only inside his home and to live at either his Avoca Beach home, or his Canberra house if he was working.

Starling was out celebrating the 21st birthday of the brother of Newcastle player Connor Watson with a group, including Kalyn Ponga and other NRL identities.

He told Canberra club officials that he stepped in to defend his 19-year-old brother, who had heard what he believed was a derogatory comment made by a bouncer toward his mother.

His bail conditions require him to appear in person when he is due back in court next Thursday, but he’s currently stuck in an NRL COVID bubble in Canberra.