Former TV host Andrew O’Keefe granted bail over Sydney suburbs incident

Disgraced former TV personality Andrew O’Keefe told a reporter to “get out” of his face after he was granted bail following an interaction with police where he claims a crack pipe allegedly found in his pocket belonged to someone else. A haggard and husky-voiced O’Keefe sat quietly in the dock as his lawyer, Sharon Ramsden, applied for his release on bail at Waverley Local Court on Monday morning. Police allege the former Deal or No Deal host returned a positive drug test after he was stopped shortly before midday on Sunday in Sydney’s affluent Bellevue Hill. Officers further allege the 52-year-old threatened a man at an address on Longworth Ave in the neighbouring suburb of Point Piper “a short time” before the stop. Andrew O'Keefe, after being granted bail for an alleged incident in Sydney's east, had words for reporters. Chaos spilt out on the street following Mr O’Keefe’s release on bail about an hour after his appearance in court, with the former presenter dashing out of Waverley police station. Media followed the 52-year-old closely as he stepped out into traffic before zigzagging and walking briskly down the road under the spotlight of TV camera crews. Footage captured by Channel 10 shows Mr O’Keefe handing a reporter her phone after it is dropped before telling her: “get out of my face”. The court was told Mr O’Keefe allegedly confronted the man at the property “potentially as a matter of jealousy” following a “rekindling” with his former partner. “It’s certainly not been a situation where just turned up at the door and knocked on the door to say hello, there has been this aggression,” the police prosecutor told the court. The prosecutor said Mr O’Keefe knew he was “not supposed to be” at the property and he had made admissions to police about putting “one foot through the door”. He alleged Mr O’Keefe had appeared drug-affected to police and when asked about a crack pipe in his pocket told them the jacket “was worn by another person” and did not belong to him. While Ms Ramsden told the court the “allegations were denied”, she admitted Mr O’Keefe had made admissions to police because he was worried the home was being burgled. “He is able to go to the property, but he cannot enter. He was having lunch with her (the ex-partner) later that day. He got to the property and he saw the door ajar,” she said. “She (the ex-partner) is not home and there is no threat to her and there is no statement from her, which is important in assessing the prosecution case”. Ms Ramsden said Mr O’Keefe visited the home and after an initial conversation returned, at which point the man told him: “If you don't leave it’s going to be very bad for you.” She told the court the former TV host took the statement as a threat and that there was “nothing to support” claims he had been arguing with someone on the phone. In support of the bail application, Ms Ramsden said Mr O’Keefe would provide daily urine samples for drugs and his sister would provide a $1000 surety to the court. For his part, the prosecutor was opposed to Mr O’Keefe’s release, claiming he was a “danger to the community” due to his alleged drug-driving and while suspended. Mr O’Keefe was ultimately granted bail despite magistrate Jacqueline Milledge telling the 52-year-old there were “a lot of aspects of the police facts that are of concern”. “There is a real concern you were somewhere you shouldn't have been and that drugs might still be a factor in your life, but I'm prepared to give you an opportunity to continue with your treatment,” she said. Mr O’Keefe will return before court next month as he faces a single charge each of intimidation and breach a court order, with police foreshadowing more charges pending forensic examination. Sunday’s arrest comes after Mr O’Keefe was issued a court attendance notice for the offence of drive while suspended on June 20, following a vehicle stop in Bellevue Hill. In January, he was also convicted on a domestic violence charge dating back to September 2021 when he kicked and spat at a woman. Mr O’Keefe was found guilty of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and contravening an apprehended violence order. However, he avoided jail time and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and three 18-month community corrections orders for the domestic violence offences.