https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/jake-king-gets-12-month-good-behaviour-bond-after-threats/news-story/c7c9194478f92e17b6216b7af24ef0b3
Jake King gets 12 month good behaviour bond after threats
RICHARD FERGUSON
Former Richmond player Jake King has escaped a jail sentence with the help of his fellow Tigers.
King was charged last July after he threatened to break the legs of a businessman if he did not pay him $150,000. He pleaded guilty to possessing testosterone supplements, but after references from former Richmond colleagues, he was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond, without conviction, in Melbourne’s Magistrates Court yesterday. He must also pay $5000 to charity.
“I’m just happy that it’s all over. And now I can just move on from it,” he said outside court.
King was arrested at his South Melbourne tattoo parlour, which he co-owns with former outlaw motorcycle gang member Toby Mitchell, last year.
The court had heard King threatened via text message to assault businessman Tony Mokdissi, who co-owned a restaurant in Melbourne with King’s former Richmond teammate Ty Vickery.
Mr Mokdissi had failed to pay a debt to Vickery, which the court heard led to the text messages.
“If I have to come see you, I tell you right now, I’ll break you f..king legs,” King wrote in one text.
Mr Mokdissi replied: “I really don’t want to come see you. I’m just too afraid.”
A list of Richmond greats including Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin, former player Matthew Richardson, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale and former Tigers president Gary March provided character references for King.
It is understood a former police sergeant with 25 years’ experience also supplied a reference for King, who played 107 games until he was forced to retire due to injury in 2014. Vickery retired last year.