Chris Yarran’s lawyer says a series of personal tragedies saw his client reach ‘absolute despair’ in the lead up to a drug fuelled crime spree in November.

The former AFL star was yesterday sentenced to five years behind bars for a string of crimes, including assaulting a police officer.

Lawyer Terry Dobson told Mornings with Gareth Parker, Yarran has battled a methamphetamine addiction for many years.

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