Mr De Belin and Mr Sinclair, who both fronted court on Tuesday, have each pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual assault in company. Mr Sinclair was in and out of the registrar’s court in a matter of minutes, however, Mr De Belin’s case was referred to magistrate Roger Clisdell after his lawyer flagged an application to change his bail. Mr De Belin has spent the past two months reporting to Wollongong Police Station twice a week - Mondays and Fridays - however his lawyer asked for the court to delete that condition on account of his need to travel with the Dragons to interstate NRL games. The application was opposed by police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Thackray, who argued the reporting condition was not an onerous one given the seriousness of the charge. “The community expectation in relation to the nature and seriousness of the offence would dictate that all measures are put in place to ensure he attends court,” Sergeant Thackray said.

“The prosecution submits that if at anytime he becomes fearful of being convicted, the temptation arises for him to leave the jurisdiction. “I’m not saying it's likely, I’m saying it's a risk. To mitigate that concern, the bail officer put a reporting condition in place.” Mr De Belin’s lawyer said his client was being supervised by the NRL Integrity Unit and that Mr De Belin did not present a flight risk given his sporting commitments, the fact he owns real estate in the area and that his wife of six years was heavily pregnant. Callan Sinclair arrives at Wollongong Local Court. Credit:AAP Magistrate Clisdell agreed to delete the condition, finding that Mr De Belin was essentially “too well known” to flee, especially given he had surrendered his passport.

“He has a substantial contract to play professional rugby league and it requires him to travel interstate,” he said. “Given he’s a high profile sports person, he’s been in media for a number of years, I don’t think he presents a flight risk.” Both cases were adjourned to April 17 for police to serve the brief of evidence on Mr Sinclair and Mr De Belin’s legal representatives. The allegations Police documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court reveal Mr De Belin, Mr Sinclair and the alleged victim met at Mr Crown nightclub on the evening of December 8, where they talked and danced as part of a larger group.

However, it is alleged the woman accompanied Mr De Belin and Mr Sinclair when they decided to leave Mr Crown and head to Fever Nightclub. The trio were captured on CCTV standing at a taxi rank for a short time before they got in a taxi and headed to a unit owned by Mr De Belin’s cousin, who was not home. Jack de Belin leaves the court in Wollongong. Credit:Adam Mclean. The woman told police she used the bathroom when they got inside, however as she was finishing, she claims Mr De Belin walked in, naked. She walked out and Mr De Belin hopped in the shower. It is alleged Mr De Belin was naked when he came out of the ensuite, but this time grabbed hold of the woman and forcibly removed her shirt.

The woman claims she put her hands over her breasts, at which time both Mr De Belin and Mr Sinclair allegedly said “show us your tits”. It is alleged Mr De Belin then grabbed the woman by the legs, took her shorts and underwear off and and threw them on the floor. “De Belin moved himself between her legs, lent down and put his right hand around her throat and [his] right forearm pinned the upper left side off her body,” the police fact sheet said. He then began raping her, while Mr Sinclair watched on, without speaking, it is alleged. The woman said when she next saw Mr Sinclair he was removing his clothes, at which time Mr De Belin said to him“come have a go”.

It is alleged the pair then engaged in the joint rape of the woman, at one stage swapping positions between them, before Mr Sinclair allegedly said “I can’t get hard anymore” and went to have a shower. Police allege Mr De Belin continued to rape the woman, at times putting his hand around her throat, making it hard for her to breathe. Afterwards, the woman said she had a shower before ordering an Uber to take them to Fever Nightclub. She said she left soon after they arrived at the venue and contacted a friend. She then went to Wollongong Hospital where she underwent a rape test. She was seen to have injuries to her legs, neck, lower abdomen and shoulder.

Court documents noted the size difference between Mr De Belin and the woman - she is a size 6, and weighs 51kg, while De Belin is 188cm tall and weighs 106kg. Mr De Belin attended Wollongong police station on December 13, while Mr Sinclair was arrested four days later. Both men were granted strict conditional bail.