Newton has been accused of violently assaulting Taylor, who has taken out an apprehended violence order against him after two alleged ''unprovoked violent assaults'' while the couple were on holiday in Rome.

Carabinieri police spokesman Giovanni D'Auria confirmed officers were called to the Westin Excelsior Hotel on August 13 because of a verbal fight in one of the rooms.

Officer D'Auria said Newton was being sedated by paramedics when the police arrived and he was then taken to the hospital.

Newton apparently ''lost his temper'', officer D'Auria said, adding there were no allegations of physical violence at the time.

He said Taylor told ambulance staff and Carabinieri officers that her boyfriend suffered from ''psychological problems''.

Newton the son of showbiz couple Bert and Patti Newton quit as host of Seven's The X Factor show after reportedly being ''escorted'' home from Ireland by a series producer.

The network issued a statement on Monday saying Newton's health was the reason he'd been forced to withdraw from the show, due to go to air next Monday.

In April, Newtown spent 28 days in Melbourne's Malvern Private Hospital, which specialises in drug and alcohol issues, and he is reportedly back in rehab.

Neither Bert nor Patti Newton would comment yesterday, but Newton's sister, Lauren, said on Monday the family was sticking by her troubled brother.

''He's working through his issues and we all love and support him,'' she said.

Taylor's management said the actress and model was receiving medical treatment in Los Angeles.

She said she was taking legal action after a series of ''gravely serious incidents'' including two unprovoked violent assaults, on August 13 and 14, while in Rome with Newton.

Newton has faced allegations of domestic violence before, pleading guilty in 2007 to a ''one-off'' assault on actress girlfriend Brooke Satchwell during a break-up argument.

Newton admitted to punching Satchwell and was given a 12-month good-behaviour bond for the assault, but the conviction was later quashed after the judge heard of his history of mental health problems.