NRL veteran Scott Bolton has apologised after admitting to drunkenly touching a woman's upper thigh as she tried to move away from him in a Sydney bar.
The North Queensland Cowboys prop had denied a charge of indecent assault at Bondi Beach Public Bar in May 2018 and in Waverley Local Court on Monday, following discussions with police, that charge was withdrawn and the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of common assault.
Bolton in a statement on Monday afternoon said he has been determined to "strenuously argue" that he never acted indecently towards the female involved.
He apologised for his actions and the distress they caused to the victim, his wife, family, teammates and fans.
The agreed facts state the woman was sitting alone on a sofa and using her mobile phone when Bolton gave her a high-five to get her attention.
He "slumped down" next to her but she moved along the seat "in an attempt to distance herself" and tried to leave by pushing past Bolton's legs and while doing so, he reached forward and touched her upper thigh, the facts state.
The rugby league player on Monday avoided conviction but was put on a 12-month good behaviour release order.
Magistrate Greg Grogin said Bolton was "not placed on a pedestal by the court" and it was "a fact of life" professional football players faced scrutiny for any wrongdoing.
Cowboys general manager of football, Peter Parr, on Monday said the facts "confirm Scott's insistence" that he never touched the woman indecently.
Bolton made his NRL debut with the Cowboys in 2007 and helped guide them to the 2015 premiership.
He played 13 games after the incident in 2018 and the team finished 13th on the ladder.
