Legendary party boy Corey Worthington has pleaded guilty to using a wrench to attack a man who was tied to an electric scooter.
Worthington, now 31, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts each of wrongful bodily harm and property damage and one count of malicious damage to property.
The court heard that Worthington assaulted his victim, believed to be in his 50s, in January over allegations that he had sexually assaulted his new girlfriend during a drug deal in Norlane, south Victoria.
Corey Worthington transformed his body to become a ninja warrior contestant
Corey Worthington had been struggling hard to get his life back on track after the infamous 2008 partying incident
A police prosecutor told Judge John Bentley that an enraged Worthington knocked on his victim’s door and pushed past his roommate, smashing a sign that read “man cave” on the way inside.
Worthington demanded to speak to a man named “Pete,” who he claimed “touched his girls on the breasts without consent.”
The former party boy was told to leave while the roommate called 000.
On the way out, Worthington took a large shift key and used it to smash the rear driver’s side window of a car parked in the driveway.
The incident, which was caught on video surveillance, showed Worthington pacing up and down the street while questioning neighbors as to the whereabouts of his intended target.
Worthington told neighbors his girlfriend bought marijuana “from the neighbor” and repeatedly claimed she had been sexually abused.
Neighbors told police Worthington said he would “smash” Pete if he caught up with him.
Worthington was seen leaving the area in a BMW that bore the distinctive number plate “NT SORRY” – borrowing the name of a party boy company he started in the years after his infamous house party.
Worthington appeared in a 2021 ad wearing his semi-iconic yellow-rimmed sunglasses
Worthington ahead of his performance on Ninja Warrior
The court heard Worthington had seen Pete riding his electric scooter down the side road off Princes Highway.
“The defendant approached the victim, punched him in the face and hit the electric scooter with the sliding wrench before leaving,” the prosecutor said.
The victim suffered a bloody nose in the attack and was taken to Geelong Hospital by ambulance.
The court heard Worthington broke the key off the man’s mobility scooter and damaged a storage box in the attack.
During his interrogation recording, Worthington told police his partner alleged that “Pete” sexually abused her after she bought cannabis from him at the address.
“He wanted to grope her breasts…she pushed him away and he said ‘I’m going to rape you’ and she just ran,” he told police.
“When I heard that and a bunch of other stuff I just cracked it, got in the car and drove over there to confront the guy and see what was going on.”
Worthington claimed Pete knew he was guilty of the alleged assault.
“When I confronted him, I could see that he knew what he was doing right away.” You could see it in his eyes. And when I asked him about it, he started accusing my girls of robbing him,” Worthington told police.
“He started blaming her for all these things, and then I just said, ‘Pang, just shut up’ and hit him. I wanted to beat him for this scenario, but I also wanted to talk to him. I also have a daughter. I was trying to keep my cool but I knew you did something wrong and now you’re throwing that?’ he said.
Worthington refused to take off his sunglasses during this interview with ACA after the 2008 party
Worthington’s attorney, Shane Balkin, said his client struggled with celebrity as a teenager.
Mr Bentley said he remembered Worthington at the height of popularity.
“I think I remember him – the yellow glasses,” mused Mr. Bentley.
Mr Balkin said Worthington had spent the past decade trying to put his life in order and “break free from the media frenzy that surrounded him”.
“He tried very hard to avoid media attention,” Mr Balkin claimed.
After finding fame in 2008, Worthington starred in the eighth season of Big Brother later that year.
In 2018, he returned to reality television in the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior, where he showcased his muscular physique.
Mr Bentley contradicted Mr Balkin’s claims that his client was seeking a quiet life.
“Hasn’t he gone on to TV shows and stuff?” he asked.
“You saw his priors and what was going on there in court. Everything that arises from this situation. Sure he was 16 at the time – he should never have done it but he certainly didn’t benefit from it, I can tell you that,” Mr Balkin replied.
Corey Worthington (right) seated with 2008 Big Brother presenters Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O
Mr Bentley said Worthington clearly needed to seek anger management counseling.
“You can’t get into someone’s house like that and attack a person in a wheelchair, despite what happened,” Bentley said.
Mr Balkin said Worthington accepted he overreacted to his partner’s allegations.
“Investigations are ongoing in connection with the sexual assault. “He clearly overreacted, he knows that, and by his own admission he could use some anger management,” he said.
“He’s now apologizing and because he’s spent the last ten years breaking out of the media circus, that’s why he feels so much remorse and regret about it.”
“Nothing has happened in the last 10-12 years and he finds that he overreacted and did something stupid. Even if he thinks he was morally justified.”
The court heard that Worthington had split from his former wife and has been with his newest partner for four years.
“He has a 15-month-old child. That’s why his work is important now and a conviction could have serious consequences for him.”
Mr Bentley sentenced Worthington to six months imprisonment without a conviction and ordered that he undergo court-approved counseling.
Before letting Worthington go, Mr Bentley suggested getting new number plates for his car.
“I never wanted those plates,” Worthington replied. “I was given these plates.”
Mr Bentley told Worthington that he felt sorry for his treatment by the media as a teenager.
“It was horrible what they did to you.” You were a 16-year-old boy and there is no doubt that whatever it was, the station took advantage of you. “It was totally unacceptable,” he said.
HOW COREY WORTHINGTON BECAME A HOUSE NAME
Worthington became a worldwide sensation when he was just 16 for throwing a runaway party at his parents’ house in Narre Warren while his mother Jo and stepfather Stephen Delaney vacationed on the Gold Coast in 2008.
A hands-on pioneer of the possibilities of social media, Worthington posted an open invitation to his party on MySpace in 2008, which resulted in more than 500 people storming the house on a Saturday night.
A riot soon broke out as revelers threw broken bottles at police, damaging cars and surrounding property.
Only after more than 30 officers, the canine unit and the police helicopter ambushed the party and broke it up, was it brought under control.
While the party made Worthington a hero among his friends, it was his unrepentant interview with A Current Affair’s Leila McKinnon that made him an online sensation.
Wearing flashy yellow sunglasses, bright yellow hair and a floral hat, Worthington stepped out in front of the cameras and refused to take responsibility.
When McKinnon asked Worthington to take off his sunglasses, the irritated party king refused.
“No, no, I’ll leave these on.” “I like them,” he replied.
While he said he was sorry, he added, “I can’t be held responsible for everything that happened, it wasn’t in the house, it was out in the street and I didn’t do it.”
“The police said stay inside so you don’t get in trouble and I did what he said so…”
As McKinnon urged him to keep apologizing and showing his face, he added, “I apologize but I’m not taking my glasses off…”
In 2018, he told The Fix he spent a decade living up to his wild reputation after his runaway house party went viral.
“It was a great ride,” he says, proud of his shame. “That’s the role I was thrown into, and I’ve made it my own as best I can.”
He later had the words “Not Sorry” smeared on his fingers in ink.
In 2021, Worthington starred in a TV ad denouncing an insurance company.