The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
Andrew O'Keefe, 53, a former host of the popular Australian TV show The Chase, where he starred alongside UK favourites Anne Hegerty and Mark Labbett, was found guilty of several charges in January this year. These included common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, drug possession and breaching an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO).
The ex-presenter initially admitted to the AVO-related charge - a court order designed to protect individuals from violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening behaviour but faced court for the remaining charges during a three-day trial in 2023, reports OK!
Andrew, who also hosted Dragons Den and Deal Or No Deal in Australia, has since had another brush with the law after allegedly being caught driving on a suspended licence. Reports suggest he was seen behind the wheel of a car in Sydney's Bellevue Hill on June 20.
function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114945&playerApiId=v114945');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)} window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114945"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})In the assault trial, the magistrate at Sydney Downing Centre Local Court found him guilty of assaulting and spitting at a woman, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, during a dispute in September 2021.
Andrew presented The Chase, Dragons Den and Deal Or No Deal in Australia (Image: Getty Images)The court heard that he forcefully pushed her against a doorway, causing injuries to her hand and wrist.
He then allegedly attacked the woman, kicking her hard in the thigh which resulted in her falling to the ground.
In court, the former celebrity defended himself by suggesting that the woman had inflicted her injuries. However, the magistrate delivered a strong condemnation of his actions.
"You treated (the woman) ... with disrespect. Your actions were violent and degrading. You placed her in a position of fear, not only for herself but for her children in their own homes," she declared in the courtroom.
Andrew O'Keefe was a presenter of The Chase (Image: Getty Images)Andrew was ordered to serve 18 months on a community corrections order for domestic violence offences.
The court was told he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar affective disorder, for which he requires daily medication.
He was also found guilty of being in possession of two illegal drugs, which were found in his apartment when he was arrested two days after the assault. He was convicted and fined $800.
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The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
The Chase star avoids prison as he's found guilty of 'violent' attack on woman
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