Lowest of acts from NRL stars

[Beaussie]

We all know about the numerous drunkards and thugs in the NRL. Now thieves from the NRL. How low can you go?

League stars are lobster thieves
By Tim Elbra
August 22, 2006 12:00
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 09,00.html

ANYWHERE on the Australian coast it is considered the lowest of acts - stealing lobsters or crabs from another person's traps.

The lure of free lobsters cost former rugby league heroes Terry Hill and Scott Fulton a combined total of $7000 and a criminal conviction yesterday.

The pair pleaded guilty in Gosford Local Court to interfering with commercial lobster traps and failing to pay a fishing fee.

Hill, a former Australian international, and Fulton, a Manly first-grader and son of league immortal Bob Fulton, were convicted and fined $2550 each after an early-morning boat escapade at Broken Bay in December last year.

They "interfered" with seven lobster traps belonging to commercial fisherman Thomas van der Neut.

The pair were also ordered to pay $134 in court costs, $185 in witness fees and are each $4500 out-of-pocket in legal bills.

Hill, 34, refused to comment yesterday, bantering with Fulton, 33, and his legal team as he left court.

Fulton spoke only to make the wisecrack: "I'm going to go home and listen to the B52s", in reference to the band's 1978 hit song Rock Lobster.

No lobsters or fish were found on Hill's boat when it was searched by NSW Fisheries officers shortly after the incident on December 29.

Magistrate Gary Cocks yesterday viewed video footage which showed Hill driving a 6m speedboat to a series of lobster traps, which Fulton then lifted from the water.

The court heard that on December 28, Mr Van Der Neut found nine of his traps in different locations than where they were set and five missing.

The missing traps were found in a bay and monitored by a NSW Fisheries officer the following morning.

At 5.30am, Hill and Fulton were filmed boating to the five traps and also to two others near Box Head belonging to Mr Van Der Neut.

Mr Cocks accepted any interference with the lobster traps was not premeditated but rejected claims the pair did not know what they were doing.

Hill and Fulton's legal team tendered character references to the court from the likes of radio kingpins Alan Jones and Ray Hadley, rugby league don Ken Arthurson and swimming legend Dawn Fraser.

[Willis 21]

Since when is Scott Fulton a league star??

Perennial reserve grader...

Terry Hill is currently playing Rugby Union for the Central Coast.. .I blame the despicable culture of Union...