Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple domestic violence charges, including assault, strangulation, burglary, and stalking.
Despite the sentence, Slater will be released, having already spent over a year in custody following his bail denial in 2024. His remaining sentence is suspended for five years, meaning he could be sent back to prison if he commits another serious offence during this period.
The Maroochydore District Court, presided over by Judge Glen Cash, acknowledged Slater’s ongoing battle with alcoholism and noted that rehabilitation would be challenging. Slater collapsed in court when his bail was denied in April 2024 and has remained behind bars since.
Slater, who played 74 Test matches for Australia between 1993 and 2001, scoring over 5,000 runs, transitioned into cricket commentary after his retirement. His career as a broadcaster ended in 2021 when Australia’s Seven Network severed ties with him. In 2022, Slater was given a two-year community corrections order by a Sydney court for similar offenses.
His latest sentencing marks a significant moment in his troubled post-cricket life, with the court emphasising that his battle with alcoholism will be an uphill struggle.
