John Hopoate fined $1500 for fruit shop assault

Former NRL player John Hopoate thought everything was apples after a brief row with a neighbouring businessman, but he has now been fined $1500 and convicted of common assault.

Hopoate was charged with common assault after he in May went looking for the owner of a fruit shop which shares a till with the deli he part-owns, hoping to sort out why his weekly take had dropped from about $26,000 to $17,000.

But when told by staff member Albert Demasi the owner "Carmelo" wasn't about, the men argued before Hopoate swung his right arm at Mr Demasi's chest to stop him walking away and said "I'm talking to you, c***," Downing Centre Local Court heard on Friday afternoon.

Mr Demasi, who may be unaware of Hopoate's previous career, then retaliated, the court heard.

"The victim pushed the offender away and head-butted him," Magistrate Greg Grogin said while sentencing Hopoate.

But according to Hopoate it was just a "heat of the moment" exchange and the men soon made up.

"He gave me a box of apples and bananas," Hopoate told the court.

Hopoate has several assault matters on his record, which did not go in his favour, Mr Grogin said.

Despite Hopoate's history he was fined and also given an 18-month good behaviour bond.

"The criminality in this matter is not great," Mr Grogin said.

After the brief hearing Hopoate questioned the media interest in it.

"There's murderers and there's other cases here and you worry about common assault," he said.

He then high-fived a curious member of the public as he walked from the press pack.