Fallen AFL legend 'Dani' Laidley was talking so much during her videolink sentence for stalking an estranged girlfriend that she had to be telephoned by her lawyer to tell her to shut up and listen to the magistrate

A bored 'Dani' Laidley needed to be telephoned by her high-profile lawyer to shut her up so she could be sentenced. 

The former AFL great, previously known as Dean, was caught on Wednesday talking non-stop about her victim while a vexed magistrate waited to carry out sentence. 

Laidley had appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court via videolink where she pleaded guilty to stalking her estranged girlfriend.  

A court sketch of former AFL player and coach Laidley during a bail hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court earlier this year

Court heard AFL legend Dean 'Dani' Laidley stalked his terrified victim, taking photos of her home and texting her almost 50 times in one night

Police keep guard as Dean Laidley leaves Melbourne Assessment Prison in Melbourne in May.  She spent nine days behind bars before receiving bail

'I'm sorry someone is talking about the case in the background and they'll just have to mute themselves, we can hear clearly what's being put,' Magistrate Jack Vandersteen told the court. 

'See this is the thing right,' Laidley continued as the magistrate ordered his clerk to mute the entire online courtroom.

When the sound was switched on moments later, Laidley continued to talk about her case to someone else in the room. 

The magistrate repeatedly asked Laidley, who continues to appear as Dean on court systems, to respond so he could carry out his sentence. 

The hearing had already been going for almost an hour. 

'Where is that coming from?' he asked his clerk. 

'Ms Laidley,' the clerk responded.  

The disgraced ex-Kangaroo only piped-down after her embarrassed lawyer, Rob Stary, asked if he could go outside and call his client. 

When she finally tuned in, the magistrate applauded her for her efforts to rehabilitate herself following her terrifying behaviour. 

'Ultimately, you have done the right thing,' Mr Vandersteen, who only last week ordered Laidley to write a 'letter of gratitude' to a police officer working at the same station where photos of the AFL legend dressed as a woman were leaked. 

He sentenced Laidley to an 18-month good behaviour bond, without conviction or even a fine.  

If Laidley had been listening earlier, he would have heard a swag of damning, uncontested facts, labelled against him. 

On May 1, the day before the then 53-year-old was arrested wearing a wig and dress, police said she sent a text message to his victim that 'appeared to be for someone else,' and later placed flowers on her car.  

The text message read: 'She said she was staying home tonight... Wasn't seeing him the whole weekend. She did say that then I repeated it later and she said no I like to stay home Friday nights. Nothing changes, bulls**t lies again,' police claimed.

Laidley had been high on methamphetamine - the deadly drug known as ice. 

The following day she sent the woman, whom had been living in an apartment jointly owned by the pair, 43 text messages in breach of an intervention order that had been in place since April 16. 

On May 1, the day before Laidley was arrested wearing a wig and dress, police allege she sent a text message to her victim that 'appeared to be for someone else,' (Pictured: A mock up of the text message)

Dean Laidley makes a Maccas run after her release from jail in May. 

Dean Laidley and Jo Laidley in happier times

By that point, Laidley had already repeatedly attended her apartment in breach of the order, taking photos in and about the complex.  

Mr Stary himself, in an attempt to prove Laidley's 'emotional attachment' to the woman presented a text Laidley had sent to the woman at the height of his stalking. 

'I want to walk down the aisle, I want to make you the happiest person in the world. I know I can do that. I want to help you, emotionally support you. Please let me in. We are meant to be together,' the text read. 

'That's indicative of the overtures that were made to the complainant,' Mr Stary said.  

Police appeared so incensed by Laidley's behaviour that a police prosecutor told the court he had instructions to proceed with both stalking and breaching of the intervention order charges. 

The later charge was struck out by the magistrate amid fears it opened up Laidley to being punished twice for the same set of offending. 

Stalking is punishable in Victoria with a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

 Mr Vandersteen said he could not conclude Laidley intended to 'actually cause harm' to his victim given his mental state at the time. 

' that he knew that engaging in the course of conduct was likely to cause harm or raise apprehension or fear,' he said. 

Laidley's lawyer says the former AFL coach now identifies as a woman

'When it comes down to it, I have to find him guilty of and otherwise strike out (the breach).' 

The court heard Laidley had begun to transform himself into Dani Laidley with the help of an endocrinologist on December 19 last year.

Laidley's victim presented a victim impact statement to the court, but it was not read aloud. 

Mr Stary said his client had been battling a severe drug habit at the time of his offending.  

'He was immersed in a drug-addled culture, he was excessively using methamphetamine,' Mr Stary said. 

Laidley spent months in a rehabilitation clinic following his release from jail and continues to be treated. 

The former footy champ was supported by former North Melbourne premiership player Anthony Stevens and AFL Coaches Association boss Mark Brayshaw, who both provided gushing references. 

The court was previously told Laidley was at no risk to the public and ought to be released on bail

Mr Stary told the court that since being charged, Laidley had mended fractured relationships with his three children, which had been damaged further by the leaking of their father's photo by police. 

Laidley had been found with a quantity of methamphetamine stashed in her bra when an officer took her photo while being questioned.

That image, and another of his mugshot, went viral in the following days. 

Thirteen police officers and support staff were suspended or transferred to other duties following the scandal and several were charged.

The photographs showed Laidley wearing a wig and make-up and were shared on social media and published by some news outlets. 

'Suffice to say, it received widespread coverage and it caused considerable distress in so far as her family - particularly her children,' Mr Stary said.  

 'The process of a reconciliation between those three adult children and Ms Laidley has been a long one. One that has been successful now in that they now accept Ms Laidley's identity and identification as a woman and that has been a very difficult road for them.'

Mr Stary said going forward Laidley hoped to help other people who might be experiencing the same difficulties she encountered in moving forward with her sexuality. 

'A penalty without conviction ... may be her salvation,' Mr Stary said. 'She can be a useful vehicle in assisting the community in dealing with people who experience transgender issues and transition.'