Charges accusing Olympic boxer Harry Garside of attacking his ex-girlfriend have been dropped after a court was told of video footage that showed her as the alleged aggressor.
The 25-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport in early May as he flew home from South Africa following filming of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
NSW Police stopped the boxer, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, as he made his way to baggage claim and charged him with a domestic violence charge of common assault against his former partner Ashley Ruscoe.
Ms Ruscoe had accused him of assaulting her between 4pm and 7pm on March 1 at Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Mr Garside fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday alongside high-profile defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou and solicitor Rebekah Giles.
The medal-winning boxer was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Ashley Ruscoe (pictured together at a function last December)
After the charges were dropped, Garside posted a statement on his Instagram account (picutred). ‘Today I have been vindicated,’ he wrote.
Garside (pictured outside court on Wednesday) dated Ruscoe for more than 18 months
He sat in the front row of the public gallery next to his lawyers as his matter was mentioned.
At a previous court mention, Ms Chrysanthou told the court she had made ‘substantial representations’ to police in relation to additional material which police didn’t have access to.
‘In particular a video of the incident in question which we say shows the complainant as the aggressor,’ Ms Chrysanthou said.
‘Other material where she has made threats about going to police to make fake complaints.’
However, police on Wednesday sensationally dropped all charges against Mr Garside in court.
‘There shouldn’t have been any charges in this case but my client is content with the speed at which my friend has moved,’ Ms Chrysanthou said.
Ruscoe had alleged that Garside attacked her on March 1 in the exclusive suburb of Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s east
After the charges were dropped, Garside posted a statement on his Instagram account.
‘Today I have been vindicated,’ he wrote.
‘Moments ago the Police Prosecutor informed the court that they have dropped all matters against me.
‘This was because my lawyers provided the recordings and communications that gave the Police a full understanding of what happened.
‘Last month I returned from South Africa feeling motivated and optimistic about my future. What has occurred since has been personally devastating and a real test of my resilience.
‘I will be forever grateful for the love and support of my family and friends who have kept me strong and focussed.’
Garside told reporters outside court that the charges took a ‘massive’ toll on him and his family, including his mother, who is battling cancer.
‘She was almost more stressed about this than she was about what she’s going through,’ he explained outside court.
‘At least now she can focus on herself and focus on her wellbeing.’
The 25-year-old thanked police for their ‘diligence in reviewing the overwhelming evidence in [his] favour’ and withdrawing the charges quickly.
‘I’m absolutely stoked. It’s a great day,’ he told reporters.
‘I am determined to move on from this with gratitude and renewed energy towards qualifying for Paris 2024.’
The boxer described his legal battle as ‘personally devastating and a real test of my resilience’ and revealed the toll it has taken on his mother as she battles cancer
Mr Garside revealed he was no longer in a relationship with Ms Ruscoe, who appeared as a contestant on The Amazing Race in 2019, during his time on I’m a Celebrity.
He was dating the boxing and martial arts instructor for more than 18 months, often being snapped by paparazzi together.
But when talking to fellow campmates, Mr Garside said he was thinking of staying single for a while.
Ms Ruscoe is nine years older than Mr Garside, with the pair attending the GQ awards together in November.
Garside was arrested in dramatic scenes at Sydney Airport as he returned home from South Africa after filming the reality TV show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (pictured)
The 33-year-old began dating the Olympic boxer after she split from her boyfriend and teammate on The Amazing Race, Sidney Pierucci in 2019.
The boxer had snapped a picture of he and his father before their flight out of South Africa, and uploaded it to Instagram.
‘Had to upgrade my best mate to business with me. His first time flying business,’ he wrote on the post.
The pair had been overseas for several weeks while Mr Garside filmed for the Channel 10 reality show which was won by netballer Liz Ellis.
Mr Garside won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s lightweight boxing, and has won seven Australian national boxing championships.
