Soak House Adelaide owner Cathy Jayne Britten (formerly Pearce) demands money from landlords John and Anita Dente in legal stoush

She was once on the BRW rich list because of her real estate empire. Now she’s demanding money from her landlord in a tense legal battle.

The former $19 million rich-lister once known as Cathy Jayne Pearce has returned to the state’s courts, demanding money over her “temporarily closed” Japanese-style communal bathhouse.

On Friday, the Supreme Court heard the one-time real estate mogul – now Cathy Jayne Britten – had issued a statutory demand to her Richmond landlords, John and Anita Dente.

It was told Ms Britten wanted the couple to pay an undisclosed sum, for undisclosed reasons, arising from her business on their property, Soak House Adelaide.

However Luke Rowley, for the Dentes, said the detail-lacking demand was “so deficient” and “hopeless” that it should be thrown out, with Ms Britten to pay the couple’s court costs.

He also said that, as of August 23 this year, federal government archives recorded Ms Britten as “an undischarged bankrupt” – a submission that she strongly refuted.

Cathy Jayne Britten, formerly Pearce, outside court in 2017. Picture: Greg Higgs

“That is not correct... I’ve been through a situation where my identity was fraudulently used by (another person), who is in jail for that,” Ms Britten said.

“I was bankrupt 12 years ago, and I’m well and truly discharged from that... it’s quite alarming and concerning, having such accusations made toward me.

“All of this is shocking, the things that are being alleged.”

In the early 2000s, Ms Britten was one of Adelaide’s hottest A-listers, sharing a $5.2 million mansion with her then-husband, real estate tycoon Myles Pearce.

Her development company, Metamorphosis, specialised in buying blocks of units for renovation and sale.

Ms Britten’s lifestyle was one of designer clothing, glamorous parties, a spot on the BRW Rich List and an estimated personal worth of $19 million.

In 2005, she authored the book “Real Estate Cash from Treasure and Trash”, in which she discussed her change from “non-performer” at school to “property sensation”.

Ms Britten in front of her former home, The Myrtles on Hawkers Road, Medindie.

However, Metamorphosis was placed into liquidation with $400,000 in debts and, after three years on the Gold Coast, Ms Britten declared bankruptcy in 2009.

She and Mr Pearce split in 2011, and she became embroiled in a decade’s worth of lawsuits over Metamorphosis’ collapse, discharging that bankruptcy along the way.

Her second book, “From Riches to Rags”, was an autobiography written about her change in lifestyle.

In 2014, Ms Britten – then Cathy Jayne Hogben – was charged with defrauding more than $54,000 in insurance following a 2008 car crash.

That case was dropped two years later, at which time she said her focus was on raising her family and running a pawnbroker business.

Ms Britten wrote two books – one about her business, and the other an autobiography.

Just five months later, a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of $15,000 in welfare fraud, which she claimed arose from an accounting mistake within government.

At the time, prosecutors alleged she was also known as “Cathy Jayne Staker”.

That case was also dropped, in September 2017, without Ms Britten ever having to enter a plea.

In 2018, she announced her intention to return to the real estate industry.

Subsequently, Ms Britten began advertising Soak House Adelaide on social media – the business is not connected to the former operators of the site.

Soak House’s website bills it as “Adelaide’s first communal bathhouse” with facilities including “two traditional Japanese onsens” for personal health and wellbeing.

A notice at the top of the website says the business is “temporarily closed until further notice”.

Ms Britten outside court in 2016. Picture: Stephen Laffer

In court on Friday, Mr Rowley said his clients had been issued with a demand by a company called CJDJ Pty Ltd, of which Ms Britten was the sole director.

He said that, as an undischarged bankrupt, Ms Britten was not lawfully allowed to serve as a company director – another reason the demand should be thrown out.

“There is no indication of what the debt might be or might not be (on the court papers)... her claim is so deficient as to be a nullity... this case is hopeless,” he said.

Ms Britten, who appeared by telephone, said the Dentes had “failed” to “properly serve” her with court papers, and that Mr Rowley was “incorrect”.

Ms Britten appeared in court on Friday by phone.

“My husband, David, is also a director, and the critical point is I am not an undischarged bankrupt,” she said.

“I have the official receiver’s document to say it (the bankruptcy) was fraud, and will provide it to the court.”

She claimed much of what had been said in court was “inappropriate”, prompting Associate Justice Graham Dart to intervene.

“I’m running this court, Ms Britten, not you, so it’s not for you to decide what’s appropriate,” he said.

Ms Britten then said her phone was “going out of range” – Associate Justice Dart told her to “stop where you are” so that court could continue.

He ordered Ms Britten to file further documents in support of her claim, and Mr Rowley to respond to them, ahead of a hearing in October.