Legendary party boy Corey Worthington has pleaded guilty to attacking a man confined to a mobility scooter with a spanner.
Now 31, Worthington fronted Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to two counts each of unlawful assault and criminal damage and another of wilful damage.
The court heard Worthington attacked his victim, believed to be aged in his 50s, in January amid claims he sexually assaulted his new girlfriend during a drug deal in Norlane – in Victoria’s south.
Corey Worthington transformed his body to become a Ninja Warrior contestant
Corey Worthington had fought hard to get his life on track following the infamous 2008 party incident
A police prosecutor told Magistrate John Bentley an irate Worthington banged on his victim’s door and pushed past his house mate, smashing a ‘man cave’ sign on his way in.
Worthington demanded to speak with a man known as ‘Pete’, who he claimed had ‘touched his misses on the breast without consent’.
The former party boy was asked to leave, with the housemate phoning 000.
On his way out, Worthington picked up a large shifter spanner, smashing the rear driver’s side window of a car parked in the driveway.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed Worthington then walk up and down the street as he interrogated neighbours as to the whereabouts of his intended target.
Worthington told neighbours his girlfriend had purchased marijuana ‘from the guy next door’ and repeated claims of her sexual assault.
Neighbours told police Worthington stated he was going to ‘smash’ Pete when he caught up with him.
Worthington was seen leaving the area in a BMW bearing the distinctive number plates ‘NT SORRY’ – in reference to the name of a party boy company he started in the years following his notorious house party.
Worthington appeared in a 2021 advertisement where he wore his semi-iconic yellow-rimmed sunglasses
Worthington in the lead-up to his appearance on Ninja Warrior
The court heard Worthington spotted Pete driving his mobility scooter along the service lane of the Princes Highway.
‘The accused has approached the victim and punched him in the face and struck the mobility scooter with the shiftable spanner before leaving,’ the prosecutor said.
The victim received a bloody nose in the attack and was taken to Geelong Hospital by ambulance.
The court heard Worthington broke off the key in the man’s mobility scooter and damaged a storage box during the attack.
During his record of interview, Worthington told police his partner claimed ‘Pete’ sexually assaulted her after she bought cannabis from him at the address.
‘He went to go grope her on the boobs … she pushed him away and he goes “I’m going to rape you” and she just ran straight out,’ he told police.
‘When I heard that and some other stuff I just cracked it and I got in the car and went there to confront the bloke to see what was going on.’
Worthington claimed Pete knew he was guilty of the alleged assault.
‘When I confronted him I could see he knew what he did straight away. You could see it in his eyes. And when I asked him he started accusing my misses of robbing him,’ Worthington told police.
‘He started accusing her of all this stuff and then I was just like “bang, just shut-up” and I hit him. I already wanted to hit him for that scenario, but I wanted to also talk to him. I’ve got a daughter too. I tried to keep my cool but knowing you did wrong and now you’re throwing this?’ he said.
Worthington refused to remove his sunglasses during this interview with ACA following the 2008 party
Worthington’s lawyer Shane Balkin said his client had struggled with his notoriety as a teenager.
Mr Bentley said he recalled Worthington during the zenith of popularity.
‘I think I recall him – the yellow glasses,’ Mr Bentley mused.
Mr Balkin said Worthington had attempted to get his life in order over the past 10 years and ‘extract himself from the media circus that engulfed him’.
‘He’s tried very hard to escape media attention,’ Mr Balkin claimed.
After finding fame in 2008, Worthington starred on Big Brother season eight later that year.
In 2018, he returned to reality television on the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior, debuting his muscular physique.
Mr Bentley called out Mr Balkin’s claims his client had sought the quiet life.
‘Didn’t he go on TV shows and things?’ he asked.
‘You’ve seen his priors and what went on in court there. All arising out of that situation. Sure, he was 16 at the time – he should never have done it, but he certainly hasn’t profited from it I can tell you that,’ Mr Balkin responded.
Corey Worthington (right), seated with 2008 Big Brother hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O
Mr Bentley said Worthington clearly needed to undertake anger management counselling.
‘You can’t go barging in, despite whatever has happened, into someone’s house in the manner in which he’s done and assault a person in a mobility chair,’ Mr Bentley said.
Mr Balkin said Worthington accepted he had over reacted to the allegations made by his partner.
‘There is an ongoing investigation around the sexual assault. He’s clearly over reacted, he knows that and by his own admission he could do with some anger management,’ he said.
‘He’s apologetic now and because he’s spent the past 10 years trying to extricate himself from the media circus, that’s why he experiences such a level of remorse and regret over this.
‘There’s been nothing in the last 10-12 years and he finds himself he’s over reacted and gone and done something stupid. Even though he thinks he was morally justified.’
The court heard Worthington had split with his former wife and has been seeing his latest partner for the past four years.
‘He’s got a 15-month year old child. That’s why his work now is important and a conviction could have serious ramifications for him.’
Mr Bentley placed Worthington on a six-month good behaviour bond, without conviction, and ordered he undertake court sanctioned counselling.
Before letting Worthington go, Mr Bentley suggested he find new number plates for his car.
‘I never wanted those plates,’ Worthington responded. ‘I was given those plates.’
Mr Bentley told Worthington he sympathised with him over his treatment by the media as a teenager.
‘That was awful what they did to you. You were a 16-year old boy and there is no doubt about it Channel, whatever it was, took advantage of you. It was totally unacceptable,’ he said.
