May day for NRL utility in court over sex acts
Tyrone May faces charges of filming and disseminating sexual acts without consent in court today.
The Penrith league utility hasn’t played since being stood down under the game’s controversial “no-fault” policy for serious criminal charges in April, AAP reported.
The 22-year-old has since continued to train with the NRL club ahead of his court appearance today.
Police will allege May filmed women without their knowledge while he engaged in sexual acts on separate occasions in Coffs Harbour and Kingswood, a suburb of Penrith in Sydney’s far west, last year. It came after footage of intimate acts with the two women were leaked on social media in March, forcing Penrith to defend their club culture.
Under NSW’s revenge porn laws, offenders face up to three years in jail and an A$11,000 fine.
May was one of three Panthers players involved in sex tapes that emerged on social media earlier this year, including Tyrone Phillips and Liam Coleman.
Phillips has since quit the club after a drink-driving charge earlier last month, AAP reports.
Coleman, who was not in the club’s top-30 squad, also left Penrith last week after spending the first two months of the year in reserve grade.
May was widely tipped to be part of the Panthers’ top 17 this year as utility, forcing the club to adopt a dual hooker system in his absence.
He is one of three players stood down by the NRL under its new policy, which is being fought in Federal Court by St George Illawarra star Jack de Belin.
An outcome for the de Belin case is expected this week, with the Dragons lock likely to return to the game should the court rule in his favour.
Meanwhile, the NRL is continuing to weigh any potential punishment for Wests Tigers utility Michael Chee Kam, who wasn’t named to face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
Chee Kam remains stood down from playing by the Tigers after he pleaded guilty to common assault last week following an incident with a ride-share driver in December.
The Tigers had originally planned on playing him until his sentencing date on May 7 but stood him down last Saturday.