Former TV star Andrew O’Keefe responds to drug-driving allegations with a plea
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Content Warning: This article contains topics involving the use of illicit drugs. Reader discretion is advised.
We’ve all heard about the wild antics of celebrities, and it is often we hear of it spilling over into breaking the law.
This is exactly what former Seven TV host Andrew O’Keefe faces today after pleading guilty to drug-driving charges.
The former television personality was scheduled for a court hearing but entered his plea early, avoiding another day in the public eye.
The incident that led to the charge occurred in January in the affluent Sydney suburb of Point Piper.
O’Keefe was pulled over for a routine roadside test, which led to a secondary saliva test and the subsequent suspension of his driving licence.
The results of the saliva test returned positive for an illicit substance, leading to O’Keefe being charged in April with driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs.
The 52-year-old's lawyer, Sharon Ramsden, entered the guilty plea on his behalf in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.
O’Keefe, who has been a household name in Australia for years, has been on a 'sincere endeavour' to abstain from drugs since being granted bail in August following a breach of the conditions of his earlier release on other charges.
‘That treatment is ongoing by both his treating psychologist and psychiatrist,’ Ramsden said. O’Keefe was present in court, observing the proceedings.
Magistrate Miranda Moody noted that O’Keefe's driving was not what initially attracted police attention. However, his driving history did not assist him in this case.
'He has clearly had some issues with illicit drug use,' she said.
Despite his past, O’Keefe was granted a conditional release order, essentially a good behaviour bond, for 12 months.
This was due to no 'live offending' and evidence that he had successfully been abstaining from drugs.
The former Deal or No Deal and The Chase host started facing troubles in January 2022, when he was accused of domestic violence towards a 38-year-old woman, for which he spent four months in prison.
He was also arrested in November 2022 for allegedly breaching bail conditions by failing a drug test weeks after completing rehab.
In August 2023, O’Keefe was arrested and charged for breaching a restraining order. He was taken to the Waverly Police Station and was charged with one count of contravening a restriction/prohibition of an apprehended violence order (AVO).
What are your thoughts on this situation, members? How do you think this will impact O’Keefe's career? Let us know in the comments below.
We’ve all heard about the wild antics of celebrities, and it is often we hear of it spilling over into breaking the law.
This is exactly what former Seven TV host Andrew O’Keefe faces today after pleading guilty to drug-driving charges.
The former television personality was scheduled for a court hearing but entered his plea early, avoiding another day in the public eye.
The incident that led to the charge occurred in January in the affluent Sydney suburb of Point Piper.
Andrew O’Keefe pleaded guilty to a drug driving charge against him. Credit: 7news
O’Keefe was pulled over for a routine roadside test, which led to a secondary saliva test and the subsequent suspension of his driving licence.
The results of the saliva test returned positive for an illicit substance, leading to O’Keefe being charged in April with driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs.
The 52-year-old's lawyer, Sharon Ramsden, entered the guilty plea on his behalf in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.
O’Keefe, who has been a household name in Australia for years, has been on a 'sincere endeavour' to abstain from drugs since being granted bail in August following a breach of the conditions of his earlier release on other charges.
‘That treatment is ongoing by both his treating psychologist and psychiatrist,’ Ramsden said. O’Keefe was present in court, observing the proceedings.
Magistrate Miranda Moody noted that O’Keefe's driving was not what initially attracted police attention. However, his driving history did not assist him in this case.
'He has clearly had some issues with illicit drug use,' she said.
Despite his past, O’Keefe was granted a conditional release order, essentially a good behaviour bond, for 12 months.
This was due to no 'live offending' and evidence that he had successfully been abstaining from drugs.
The former Deal or No Deal and The Chase host started facing troubles in January 2022, when he was accused of domestic violence towards a 38-year-old woman, for which he spent four months in prison.
He was also arrested in November 2022 for allegedly breaching bail conditions by failing a drug test weeks after completing rehab.
In August 2023, O’Keefe was arrested and charged for breaching a restraining order. He was taken to the Waverly Police Station and was charged with one count of contravening a restriction/prohibition of an apprehended violence order (AVO).
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