Ex-AFL footballer and convicted woman basher Nick Stevens says pleading guilty to attacking his former partner was his 'greatest regret in life'.
In an explosive interview with fellow ex-footballer Sam Newman, Stevens said he only ever admitted to the crime - including kicking her on the ground - to get a lighter sentence.
'If anyone knows the legal system ... if you have done something and you plead at that time, you pretty much get dealt with an easier or lesser sanction because you're showing remorse - all that type of stuff,' Stevens said.
Nick Stevens has gone public over his struggles in life since being jailed for bashing his former partner
Steven did three months in jail over the terrifying 2014 attack on Laima McKenna in which he kicked her as she lay cowering on the ground
Nick Stevens (left) leaves the County Court of Victoria in 2016 with his former girlfriend Amelia Miller, who defended him at the time
Stevens did three months in jail over the terrifying 2014 attack on Laima McKenna in which he kicked her as she lay cowering on the ground.
She now has a permanent scar on her cheek.
The fallen star did hard time in jail, he claimed, and was once jumped by three other inmates who were armed with a knife.
Stevens had pleaded guilty to two assault charges in 2016, but now claims he only did so because 'the damage was already done'.
'I'd been written about every little which way possible and said this that or the other,' he moaned to Newman on his podcast.
Newman admitted he was forced to heavily edit his interview with the disgraced ex-footballer due to his responses to questions.
'We don't want to be the broadcasting medium that incurs any litigation,' Newman warned.
Stevens played 127 games for Port Adelaide before playing 104 games with Carlton where he was vice captain.
He retired at age 29 in 2009 with a serious neck injury before returning to suburban football.
Launching into the subject, Newman told Stevens he 'almost' fit the description of a psychopath.
Over half-an-hour, Newman suggested Stevens was a thug and a victim blamer who was 'delusional' if he thought anyone would believe he was innocent.
Nick Stevens revealed to Sam Newman he had busted up with Amelia Miller (pictured) and now planned to marry his new partner next year
Nick Stevens was convicted of 12 charges over the bashing of his former girlfriend. He had pleaded not guilty. He appealed the decision and was jailed after pleading guilty to two assault charges
Laima McKenna told a court Nick Stevens had ruined her life and left her with permanent facial injuries
Nick Stevens in his prime with Carlton Football Club. A neck injury ended his playing career
The You Cannot Be Serious podcast heard Stevens said his victim's assault claim was '150 per cent false'.
'It doesn't matter what I believe if I'm not guilty, it's what the outcome is,' Stevens said.
The bitter thug blamed his guilty plea on his lawyers, who advised the prosecution deal would keep him out of jail.
Stevens had initially faced 44 charges, which were reduced to just two upon his guilty plea on appeal.
He had already been convicted of 12 charges related to the assault on Ms McKenna, which were reduced in a plea deal in the County Court of Victoria.
'They came down to two intentionally causing injury,' Steven bragged to Newman.
'The biggest thing that I'm guilty of Sam, that I will openly say I'm guilty of,
