Openly gay former rugby league player Ian Roberts has faced court over an alleged attack on his former boyfriend, Ben Prideaux, at a backpacker hostel in Sydney’s Kings Cross area in July of 2006. The sportsman-turned-actor told the court that he was just holding back Mr Prideaux’s hands down to stop him from scratching him, saying ‘He was fanatical. He had worked himself up. I tried to calm him down. I said: Babe, it’s me; its all good,â?. Allegedly he then held Mr Prideaux’s face to try and calm him down, but to no avail. The court heard that Roberts went to the hostel to retrieve his personal computer by mistake, as it was identical to the one Mr Prideaux was using. Mr Roberts decided to leave without his computer when the hotel receptionist said that she would call the police. Mr Prideaux had said that he had tried to hit Roberts but could not as he was a ‘big, cuddly softieâ?. The pair are to reappear in May, where the case will continue.