Former NRL star John Hopoate has pleaded not guilty to stalking and breaching an existing apprehended violence order and those charges dismissed in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court .
He pleaded guilty to shoplifting and was fined $400.
Hopoate was in June fined $1500 and convicted of common assault over a row with staff of a fruit shop which shares a till with the deli he part-owns.
The month before Hopoate went looking for Carmelo De Velli to find out why his weekly take had dropped.
When he was told the owner wasn’t there he became disgruntled and argued with staff when things became physical.
Hopoate was given a 12-month Apprehended Personal Violence Order which prohibits him from approaching or contacting Mr De Velli.
The 43-year-old won a premiership with Manly in 1996 and represented NSW and Australia.
He received a lengthy suspension while playing for Wests Tigers after inserting his fingers in opposition players' backsides.
A head-high tackle on Keith Galloway ended his career in 2005.
IMAGE: Stephen Cooper/ Fairfax Media
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