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Former Parramatta grand final hero Paul Mares has successfully had a string of charges thrown out on mental health grounds after a foul-mouthed and fiery roadside confrontation with a country cop.
The rugby league hardman, who played a key role in the Eels' historic grand final victory in 1983, on Thursday appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court in a bid to have his convictions overturned for a string of charges relating to the incident in southern NSW three years ago.
The court was told that the incident was sparked when a frustrated Mr Mares accused the officer of having a sexual relationship with his former partner.
Mr Mares, 60, pleaded guilty to refusing to submit to an oral fluid test, driving a motor vehicle with menace, not obeying a direction of police and not keeping to the left of centre of a road.
He was last year fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months however launched an appeal to have his convictions overturned and dealt with under the Mental Health Act.
Paul Mares faced court on Thursday but was cleared on mental health grounds
Assignment Freelance Picture Paul Mares appealed his conviction over an expletive-laden roadside argument with a police officer
His solicitor, Patrick Duffy, on Thursday told the court that it would 'border on brutal' to leave Mares without a licence due to his catalogue of injuries from his playing days.
The incident, captured on police bodycam footage, unfolded after Mares was pulled over on Bushrangers Hill Rd at Adaminaby, near the Snowy Mountains, in 2021.
In an expletive-laden rant, Mr Mares can be heard saying: 'You can f***ing tell me who you f***ing are, your f***ing name and who you represent. You're going to pull me over, I want to know that.'
He further asked for the officer's name and badge number during the tense conversation.
In the video, Mares agrees to take part in a roadside breath test but sped off when asked to do a drug test.
'Stop Paul!' the officer yelled after Mr Mares took off in his black ute.
He returned shortly after but parked his vehicle alongside the officer's car, leading to a stand-off
