A former Australian cricketer has received a four-year partly suspended prison sentence after admitting to multiple domestic violence charges but will walk free after serving over a year in custody.
Michael Slater, 55, was sentenced on Tuesday to a partly suspended four-year jail term after pleading guilty to seven domestic violence offences. He was released immediately, having already spent more than 12 months behind bars following a bail denial in April 2024.
The former opening batter faced two counts of common assault, one count of unlawful striking, one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, burglary, and two counts of strangulation. These incidents led to his arrest and subsequent custody in Queensland.
Judge Glen Cash noted Slater’s ongoing struggle with alcoholism during sentencing.
“Alcoholism is part of your make-up,” the judge said, warning Slater that his path to rehabilitation would “not be easy.”
Slater collapsed in court when denied bail last year and required assistance from prison officers.
His legal troubles are not new—he was previously sentenced in 2022 to a two-year community corrections order in Sydney after pleading guilty to common assault and attempted stalking.
A prominent figure in Australian cricket, Slater represented his country in 74 Test matches from 1993 to 2001, scoring over 5,000 runs, including 14 centuries.
After retiring in 2004, he moved into broadcasting with Channel 4 in the UK and later with Australia’s Seven Network, which ended its association with him in 2021.
Slater’s case adds to a growing number of high-profile sports figures facing domestic violence charges in recent years, prompting broader conversations around mental health, addiction, and accountability.