Drama unfolds at celebrity Byron Bay mansion: Neighbours star Madeleine West wins court appeal
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Australian actress Madeleine West, well-known for her roles on Neighbours, Underbelly, and Fat Tony & Co., has found herself caught up in a real-life drama involving her celebrity chef ex-partner Shannon Bennett's father, Benny Clifton Bennett.
The high-stakes battle took place in a courtroom, and West emerged triumphant.
The actress, who also authored a book about motherhood titled Six Under Eight, recently won a long-running court appeal against a previous Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) that Benny Bennett had secured against her—following an incident at Shannon Bennett's Byron Bay mansion in May last year.
In the appeal judgement, Judge Jonathan Priestley set aside the AVO, noting that certain aspects of the event were agreed upon. At the time, Benny Bennett was minding his son's luxurious waterfront home while Shannon Bennett, famous for his judging appearances on MasterChef, was overseas.
The case centred around a contentious visit where Mr Bennett claimed West 'barged' or pushed her way into the house. West had attempted to address a sensitive family matter that cannot be reported for legal reasons.
In response, Judge Priestley revealed that although certain details from the incident were agreed upon—such as the time West arrived at the property and her intention to discuss a family matter—there remained disputes over what actually transpired.
In his statement, Benny Bennett said he only opened the door because he thought someone was delivering a parcel. The moment he opened the gate, West pushed past him and entered the property.
However, Madeleine West's legal team strongly countered these allegations. Barrister Andrew Fernon SC argued that Benny Bennett was not scared of West and claimed he had only lodged the complaint with the police at the behest of his son Shannon. This was part of the 'continuous battle' between West and her former partner.
As the trial unfolded, the dramatic tension rivalled anything we've seen on Neighbours. The soap opera showed plenty of memorable on-screen conflicts, such as the longstanding feud between Paul and Jim Robinson. But West's case shows that real life can often be as tense and dramatic as what we see on the small screen!
Multiple reels of CCTV footage revealed West pushing her way into the estate and Benny Bennett's reaction as she entered the home. However, Benny Bennett admitted to not being afraid of his former daughter-in-law, despite being elderly and hearing-impaired.
'She's never been aggressive or anything to me,' he said.
Ultimately, Judge Priestley sided with Madeleine West, dismissing the AVO granted earlier in Byron Bay Local Court. A hearing regarding the payment of costs will be held in July.
Following her victory, Madeleine West's past struggles have now taken centre stage. The actress, author, and podcaster recently revealed that she was a victim of child sexual abuse. Speaking openly about her bout with anorexia as a result of the abuse, West explained her obsession with looking 'perfect'—a punishing and never-ending struggle.
The bitter feud between Madeleine West and Shannon Bennett has implications beyond the courtroom. The former couple, who have six children together, are attempting to navigate the complexities of co-parenting amidst the aftermath of this 'toxic' separation.
In an age of social media and public scrutiny, celebrity couples often find themselves making headlines as they struggle to maintain a semblance of privacy during difficult times.
West even relocated to Byron Bay in 2020, buying a $4.6 million mansion to be nearby her children, who live full-time with their father. The challenges of co-parenting and custody battles are not unique to celebrities, but they certainly become more complicated with the attention they receive in the public eye.
In a twist worthy of a soap opera, Madeleine West even toyed with the idea of running as an independent in the 2023 NSW election for the seat of Ballina. Unfortunately, she was not nominated.
The actress's story may be full of drama, but it's undoubtedly captivating, demonstrating that life can often be stranger than fiction. What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share them with us in the comments section below!
The high-stakes battle took place in a courtroom, and West emerged triumphant.
The actress, who also authored a book about motherhood titled Six Under Eight, recently won a long-running court appeal against a previous Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) that Benny Bennett had secured against her—following an incident at Shannon Bennett's Byron Bay mansion in May last year.
In the appeal judgement, Judge Jonathan Priestley set aside the AVO, noting that certain aspects of the event were agreed upon. At the time, Benny Bennett was minding his son's luxurious waterfront home while Shannon Bennett, famous for his judging appearances on MasterChef, was overseas.
Neighbours star Madeleine West wins court appeal. Credit: Instagram/msmadswest.
The case centred around a contentious visit where Mr Bennett claimed West 'barged' or pushed her way into the house. West had attempted to address a sensitive family matter that cannot be reported for legal reasons.
In response, Judge Priestley revealed that although certain details from the incident were agreed upon—such as the time West arrived at the property and her intention to discuss a family matter—there remained disputes over what actually transpired.
In his statement, Benny Bennett said he only opened the door because he thought someone was delivering a parcel. The moment he opened the gate, West pushed past him and entered the property.
However, Madeleine West's legal team strongly countered these allegations. Barrister Andrew Fernon SC argued that Benny Bennett was not scared of West and claimed he had only lodged the complaint with the police at the behest of his son Shannon. This was part of the 'continuous battle' between West and her former partner.
As the trial unfolded, the dramatic tension rivalled anything we've seen on Neighbours. The soap opera showed plenty of memorable on-screen conflicts, such as the longstanding feud between Paul and Jim Robinson. But West's case shows that real life can often be as tense and dramatic as what we see on the small screen!
Multiple reels of CCTV footage revealed West pushing her way into the estate and Benny Bennett's reaction as she entered the home. However, Benny Bennett admitted to not being afraid of his former daughter-in-law, despite being elderly and hearing-impaired.
'She's never been aggressive or anything to me,' he said.
Ultimately, Judge Priestley sided with Madeleine West, dismissing the AVO granted earlier in Byron Bay Local Court. A hearing regarding the payment of costs will be held in July.
Following her victory, Madeleine West's past struggles have now taken centre stage. The actress, author, and podcaster recently revealed that she was a victim of child sexual abuse. Speaking openly about her bout with anorexia as a result of the abuse, West explained her obsession with looking 'perfect'—a punishing and never-ending struggle.
The bitter feud between Madeleine West and Shannon Bennett has implications beyond the courtroom. The former couple, who have six children together, are attempting to navigate the complexities of co-parenting amidst the aftermath of this 'toxic' separation.
In an age of social media and public scrutiny, celebrity couples often find themselves making headlines as they struggle to maintain a semblance of privacy during difficult times.
West even relocated to Byron Bay in 2020, buying a $4.6 million mansion to be nearby her children, who live full-time with their father. The challenges of co-parenting and custody battles are not unique to celebrities, but they certainly become more complicated with the attention they receive in the public eye.
In a twist worthy of a soap opera, Madeleine West even toyed with the idea of running as an independent in the 2023 NSW election for the seat of Ballina. Unfortunately, she was not nominated.
The actress's story may be full of drama, but it's undoubtedly captivating, demonstrating that life can often be stranger than fiction. What are your thoughts on this story, members? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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