A FAKE doctor who organised a gay orgy at Richmond star Alex Rance's family home in revenge after the player ended their friendship will appeal against a one-year jail term.

Scott Raymond Thomas, 35, developed an "intense friendship" with Rance after he used a false identity and the prospects of hosting an MTV show to attract the defender, Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard.

The court heard the friendship lasted for four months in 2011, during which the pair shared up to 47 text messages a day.

These included Thomas telling Rance he loved him and that he looked like a Greek god.

Thomas stalked Rance, 23, after he ended the friendship.

He texted the young footballer: "This is the key words of wat I'm tryin to help u with - Richmond fc, alex rance, off season testing, ur contract, sanctions, suspensions, media. U best get a heads up so call me."

Thomas, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty to 26 charges, including stalking Rance, using a carriage service to harass Rance's sister, and obtaining $50,655 in cash by deception by selling what was purported to be human growth hormone, while acting as a doctor.

He also admitted making a false statutory declaration, trafficking testosterone and submitting false claims for royalties to the Australasian Performing Right Association.

The court heard Thomas hacked into Rance's Facebook account and sent his then girlfriend, Georgia, now his wife, a message.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Belinda Cowley said Thomas also organised a gay orgy at Rance's parents' home.

A number of "suspicious" people turned up to the home. Only Rance's grandmother and sister were there at the time.

Thomas also sent Facebook messages to Richmond players questioning Rance's integrity.

Magistrate Caitlin English said victim impact statements from Rance and his sister, Ali, described a loss of a sense of personal and family safety.

Rance and two teammates did not have to give evidence because of the guilty plea.

Defence counsel Malcolm Thomas said his client went "to pieces" when Rance ended their association.

"There was a close friendship which involved going to each other's home, having dinners together, seeing movies together, shopping together ... " Mr Thomas said.

"It's clear from reading the text messages that Mr Thomas developed perhaps the genesis of a romantic attachment to Mr Rance."

Rance sat quietly in court with his wife, sister, mother and a friend.

Mr Thomas said his client should not be jailed so he could deal with psychological problems, including low self-esteem, partly because of his weight, and post-traumatic stress disorder from a stint in an American prison.

He was previously jailed for deception offences that involved selling tickets on eBay.

Ms English said the crimes required "considerable ingenuity" and computer skills.

She sentenced him to 12 months' jail and fined him $3000.

Thomas was bailed until an appeal in August.

Rance, who has played 74 games for the Tigers, declined to comment.

emily.portelli@news.com.au

Originally published as Tiger star's stalker to appeal jail term