Greg Bird sentenced to term of imprisonment

Ex Cronulla Shark and Australian rugby league international, Greg Bird, has been jailed for the maximum period for one count of reckless wounding for the drunken assault on his girlfriend, Katie Milligan.

Ms Milligan, who suffered a fractured eye socket and cuts to her eye at the former rugby league international's Cronulla apartment last August after being glassed, has maintained the relationship with Bird and is living with him in the south of France.

In Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today, Magistrate Roger Clisdell sentenced Bird to a maximum of 16 months in prison for the attack on Ms Milligan.

"It was a despicable act and most un-Australian," the magistrate said in his sentencing comments.

Bird was also fined $5,000 for the charge of making a false accusation and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond.

In sentencing submissions, Bird's lawyer Leslie Nicholls had asked the magistrate to take note of the fact Ms Milligan had never actually complained to police about the incident.

However, Mr Clisdell said this was not unusual in cases of domestic violence.