Roberts-Smith, 42, is suing three newspapers in the Federal Court in Sydney over claims in 2018 media reports he says paint him as a criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of engagement during his military deployments
Ben Roberts-Smith was sent a letter by a 'friend at 7' urging him to end his affair, as explosive text messages between the war hero and his mistress are revealed.
Roberts-Smith, 42, is suing three newspapers in the Federal Court in Sydney over claims in 2018 media reports he says paint him as a criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of engagement during his military deployments.
Australia's most decorated soldier is also pursuing the outlets over an allegation he assaulted a woman at a Canberra hotel.
An anonymous letter - part of a collection of documents released by the federal court on Friday - questions why the 42-year-old is 'risking everything' for the affair and tells the warrior to 'save your marriage and family'.
'Dear Ben, I can imagine what you were doing with another lady (other than Emma) at Suite 991 Hyatt Regency in Sydney for 3 nights from Sunday 19 November to Wednesday 22 November,' the letter, which was sent to Roberts-Smith's family home that he shared with his then-wife and two young kids, reads.
'People saw you there. It's on your credit card and phone records.
'Why are you risking everything that you have built in your life – your wife/marriage, your daughters/family, your career, our reputation?'
An anonymous letter released by the federal court addressed to Roberts-Smith questions why the 42-year-old is 'risking everything' for an affair with another woman
Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured with his new girlfriend Sarah Matulin earlier this year) was sent a letter by a 'friend at 7' urging him to end his affair
The anonymous author, who claims to be a friend at Channel 7, asks Roberts-Smith to reconsider the affair to protect his family and his image.
'You need to stop and maintain your high standards and reignite your love/marriage with Emma. It's not too late … yet.
'Try more marriage counselling. Save your marriage and your family please.
'A friend at 7.'
Also released on Friday by the federal court were a series of texts between the Victoria Cross recipient and his mistress, referred to in court as Person 17.
Roberts-Smith is accused of assaulting the woman at an event in Parliament House in Canberra, something he denies.
Asked in court if he punched the woman in the temple causing her to stagger and fall onto a bed in a Canberra hotel room in March 2018, Mr Roberts-Smith said: 'I've never struck any woman and I certainly didn't strike Person 17'.
'This a complete fabrication,' he told the court.
He also denied photographing Person 17 while naked and asleep and later showing her the photos with the intention of having a 'hold over her'.
Text messages released by the federal court between the 42-year-old former soldier and his mistress reveal their conversation immediately following the alleged assault
Text messages between the 42-year-old former soldier and his mistress released by the federal court reveal their conversation on the night of the alleged assault.
The pair are speaking about her injuries and whether Person 17's husband suspects they had been together.
'I feel awful. I made a doctor's appointment for this afternoon after speaking to (Person 17's husband) and sent him a photo,' the woman writes.
Roberts-Smith asks his mistress: 'Does he think I did it?' before she confirms, saying her husband is also skeptical of her explanation of falling down stairs.
'Yeah, he did to begin with and he didn't believe I had fallen down stairs. I just told him what we talked about,' she replied.
'I've got some other bruises including a massive one on my thigh on the same side of my body which will hopefully make the falling story more believable.
'I think having my period will also work in my favour in terms of convincing him I wasn't with you.'
The war hero replies: 'OK well hopefully he believes you.'
A week later the pair speak via text message again, with Person 17 telling Roberts-Smith not to attempt 'intimidation or payback' and says she has plans 'in the event anything should happen to me or my family'.
'You have been holding this over me since last year... what you have done, this is outright blackmail,' Roberts-Smith messages his lover.
'No. It most certainly is not blackmail. I'm not asking for anything from you,' she replies.
'Please don't waste your time with intimidation or payback either.
'The benefit of seeing what you were capable of a few weeks back and knowing the threats you've made to me since is that I immediately put in place 'insurance' in the event anything should happen to me or my family.'
His mistress
