A Sydney magistrate yesterday dismissed an assault charge against openly-gay former rugby league star Ian Roberts who had been accused of attacking his ex-boyfriend at a Sydney hostel last July. At the end of a three-day hearing that had stretched over six months, Downing Centre Local Court magistrate John McIntosh, said he was not satisfied that the police prosecution had proved its case that the former Kangaroo and Manly first-grader assaulted Ben Prideaux. McIntosh said he had observed Prideaux when he gave evidence on the first day of the case last November. "I mean no disrespect when I say this: he tended to become agitated in the witness box,'' the magistrate said, adding that the court transcript contained several requests for Prideaux to "remain calm''. McIntosh said Prideaux was injured either when he was dragged out of the hostel room by the much larger Roberts - as police had alleged - or when the defendant took steps to calm him by holding his flailing arms. Roberts, who has turned to acting, denied a charge of common assault against his former lover on 1st July last year. After the decision was handed down, Roberts smiled and chatted with his solicitor. He said he was getting on with his life with a new partner he identified simply as ‘Daniel'. Meanwhile his acting career was progressing and he had recently finished playing in a cable network movie called ‘Second Chance'. The full story is available on the link below. Ref: Sydney Morning Herald (m)