Former Fremantle Dockers footballer Ryan Crowley charged with beating, choking former partner Lauren Dunn

A former Fremantle Dockers football player allegedly beat then choked a former reality television star several times in an alleged fit of jealousy that left her unconscious. Shocking details of Ryan Crowley’s alleged domestic violence offences were revealed during a bail application in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. The 41-year-old footballer is accused of unleashing a torrent of abuse on his ex-partner and former Married at First Sight contestant, Lauren Dunn, at a house in Claremont on Tuesday and Wednesday. During his bail application hearing, the court was told the pair had been in an on-and-off relationship for five years, between 2018 and 2023, that had been marred with allegations of domestic violence. It was revealed in court there were six prior incidents involving the pair between 2019 and 2020 where police had been called out regarding allegations of arguments and controlling behaviours including one claim that Mr Crowley was the alleged victim, however no charges were laid. With regards to the latest allegations, the court was told Ms Dunn, who lives in Sydney, had contact with Mr Crowley when she returned to Perth and contacted the 41-year-old to see if he wanted to catch up. After agreeing to meet, Mr Crowley travelled to where Ms Dunn was staying on Tuesday, the court was told. When he arrived, the police prosecutor said a verbal argument broke out with the accused calling the alleged victim an “evil c...” and “selfish b....” as well as the “biggest pig I know”. When Ms Dunn asked him to leave, Mr Crowley allegedly fired back that he wasn’t “going anywhere”. The pair proceeded to have dinner separately and roughly an hour later Ms Dunn asked Mr Crowley to leave again. The police prosecutor said Mr Crowley again refused prompting the woman to retreat to her bedroom. He said she then told him she was going to call police but he refused again. The court was told as Ms Dunn called triple-0, Mr Crowley allegedly threatened her again allegedly saying to her in a menacing whisper: “If you f...ing do this”. Ms Dunn then told the operator the call was a mistake, the prosecutor said. After the call ended, Mr Crowley allegedly snatched her phone and picked up her laptop then proceeded to go through her messages and emails. The prosecutor said after the accused found messages between Ms Dunn and another man he lunged at her, grabbed her shoulders, and threw her, causing her head to hit the floor. He said as the woman cried out in pain, Mr Crowley allegedly pinned her down using his knees on her chest and strangled her. Ms Dunn, the court was told, tried frantically to get the accused off her however she was struggling to breathe because he had allegedly covered her mouth and nose with his left hand and had used his right forearm to push against her throat. After she regained consciousness, the court was told Mr Crowley was still on top of her so she started crying and screaming for help. However Mr Crowley allegedly choked her again. The prosecutor said Ms Dunn “fought with all of her strength” to the point that her false nails snapped off. But the former footballer was too strong for her and allegedly began shaking her before slamming her head in the ground multiple times causing her hair extensions to fall out. The court was told Ms Dunn could not remember losing consciousness again but woke up on her couch with the accused telling her to come “cuddle me”. She then told him to leave but Mr Crowley allegedly refused then allegedly threatened to attack her again if she tried to call for help. The prosecutor told the court the next morning Mr Crowley refused to return her mobile phone and laptop and began demanding she explain why she had been speaking with other men. When she replied she was just lonely, he allegedly called her a “f...ing sl..”. The court was told Ms Dunn then tried to leave the Claremont unit but Mr Crowley allegedly stopped her, so she screamed. He then allegedly ripped her T-shirt and scratched her as she tried to get away. Ms Dunn then retreated back to her bedroom where Mr Crowley allegedly assaulted her again by straddling her, squeezing her neck and covering her mouth and nose so she couldn’t breathe. He then allegedly grabbed a pillow and tried to smother her. The prosecutor said Ms Dunn tried to fight him but lost consciousness again. When she woke, he said she broke into tears and begged the accused to have her mobile back but did not want to provoke him further in case he attacked her again. The court was told a while later, Ms Dunn managed to escape the unit by fleeing through the bathroom and ran to nearby café and used WIFI to message a friend. In arguing for bail, Mr Crowley’s lawyer told the court his client acknowledged their relationship had been “turbulent” in the past but denied the severity of the allegations put before the court. He also disputed the physical contact between the pair, he added. In granting Mr Crowley bail, Magistrate Adam Hills-Wright said he considered the nature of the offences, the seriousness and whether there were any conditions that he could put in place that would ameliorate concerns. He said because Ms Dunn lived in Sydney and Mr Crowley had no criminal history, adequate provisions such as protective bail conditions could be put in place preventing him from contacting the complainant. He ordered that he not leave WA, possess or use illicit substances, to report to police twice a week and granted bail on $20,000 personal bail and $20,000 surety. It is understood Mr Crowley was unable to meet the requirements and was taken to Hakea Prison for the night. Mr Crowley, who is charged with a string of offences including aggravated assault causing bodily harm, is set to appear in court again in July. 1800 RESPECT