James Roberts: Footy star opens up about his dole and depression hell as he asks judge for mercy after pleading guilty to domestic violence offence

James Roberts fronted court in Sydney on Tuesday Played more than 160 games for five NRL clubs Get your NRL news at Daily Mail Australia's WhatsApp channel 

Former NRL star James Roberts has walked away without a conviction after breaching an AVO by repeatedly calling his estranged partner.

Roberts appeared at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, when a magistrate heard the ex-NSW State of Origin representative had not worked in six months and was receiving Centrelink benefits to make ends meet.

The 31-year-old, who played more than 160 NRL games for five clubs during his playing career, earlier pleaded guilty to breaching a condition of an AVO not to make contact with his de-facto partner, Anna Jovanovic.

One charge of stalking or intimidation against him was withdrawn by prosecutors on Tuesday and dismissed by the court.

Roberts' lawyer told the court the reason he was calling Ms Jovanovic was to make contact with his children and he fully accepted his wrongdoing

'He frankly admits the breach; he called her outside the hours,' the lawyer said.

'He was having trouble getting through to the children at the agreed times.

'It was only ever about that.'

James Roberts (pictured outside court on Tuesday) pleaded guilty to calling his ex 33 times despite being banned from making contact with her under the terms of an AVO

Roberts, 31 (pictured while playing for the Wests Tigers) has been living on Centrelink payments for six months, the court heard

The police prosecutor argued there are other ways to deal with the situation other than 'pestering and harassing' Ms Jovanovic.

'It wasn't just a one-off phone call - it was 33 phone calls over a period of one-and-a-half months,' the prosecutor said.

According to court documents, Roberts made a Facebook post in October suggesting Ms Jovanovic was not allowing him communication with his children.

Magistrate Scott Nash said he understood the positions of both parties and noted the need to deter others from similarly breaching AVOs, which were designed to protect potential victims of domestic violence.

He accepted Roberts' reasons for breaching the AVO as being to try to make contact with his children.

'That might provide an explanation but not an excuse,' Mr Nash said.

The former Rabbitohs and Panthers star is pictured being led to a police van after a court appearance over the AVO breach in October last year

Roberts angrily punched the window of the vehicle (pictured) as he was being taken away

But rather than record a conviction on Roberts' record, the magistrate opted for a 15-month conditional release order.

The AVO was extended for an additional two years, with Mr Nash urging Roberts to prove the breach was out of character.

'I think in the circumstances where it is towards the lower end of seriousness … I'll treat this as an aberration on his part,' he said.

The court was told Roberts' lack of contact with his children caused him 'grave sadness', likely contributing to issues with depression.

'He was a first-grade NRL player but at the time of the breakdown of his relationship ... his career came to an end,' Roberts' lawyer told the court.

'He has no income except for Centrelink.'

Once dubbed the fastest man in rugby league, Roberts retired in 2022

He was arrested in October outside the Downing Centre Local Court after appearing for a brief court mention.

Roberts played for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos across 12 seasons in the NRL.

He appeared in all three games for NSW in the team's successful 2018 State of Origin campaign and played for the Indigenous All Stars and City Origin before retiring in 2022.