Warne: More claims

2003-08-14 14:51

Sydney - Banned Australian spin bowler Shane Warne was again at the centre of controversy on Thursday after a woman claimed she formerly was involved in a relationship with him.

It came just days after a South African woman alleged she received lewd telephone calls from Warne last year.

A married Melbourne woman - an exotic dancer - threatened on Thursday to reveal details of her alleged relationship with Warne while a former employee of Cricket Australia claimed the organisation received regular complaints about his behaviour.

Harry M Miller, a Sydney agent who often represents celebrities or high-profile cases, said a 38-year-old Melbourne woman wanted to come forward because of the unfair treatment she thought was being given to South African Helen Cohen Alon, who has accused the cricketer of harassing her with telephone calls.

"She says all the things that happened to her, this South African woman, happened to this woman as well," Miller told the Nine television network.

"The stuff this woman alleges, if it's true, will make a huge noise everywhere."

Almost daily complaints

Australian Associated Press said on Thursday that a female former marketing employee for Cricket Australia, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Warne had been the subject of almost daily complaints from the public for "several years."

"There's just too many ladies with too many stories," the woman told the Seven television network. "He made life very difficult for the staff."

Warne and his manager, brother Jason Warne, were not available for comment on the new charges.

In other news involving Warne on Thursday, businessman Christopher Kent, 46, was committed to stand trial on allegations he blackmailed Cricket Australia (formerly the Australian Cricket Board) over an incident in which Warne allegedly kissed his 16-year old niece on the Gold Coast in Queensland state.

On Sunday, Warne, three years after admitting he made lewd telephone calls to a British nurse, said he was seeking legal advice after being accused of making a series of telephone calls to Cohen Alon, a 45-year-old divorced mother of three from Johannesburg.

Cohen Alon claims she was offered money by an associate of the Australian Test cricketer to keep quiet about their relationship, phone calls and a series of text messages. She claims the phone messages continued long after she met Warne in South Africa last year.

'Thinking naughty thoughts'

Cohen Alon accused Warne of calling her up to 40 times after a models' party "saying he wanted me" and sending her text messages telling her he was lying in bed next to his wife, Simone, but "thinking naughty thoughts about me."

Warne, serving a 12-month suspension from international cricket for failing a drug test, lost the Australian vice-captaincy in August, 2000, after admitting he made lewd telephone calls to a British nurse.

- AP