Cathy Britten has fraud charges dropped by prosecutors, announces plans for future

The former multi-millionaire and BRW rich-lister was due to face court on trial for fraud – now she’s looking forward to getting “back into business”.

Former multi-millionaire and BRW rich-lister Cathy Jayne Britten was due to face court on trial for fraud – now, with her charges dropped, she’s looking forward to living a “normal life” as a wife and mother-of-five, with a dream of getting “back into business”.

Ms Britten, 51, appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday to learn a charge of dishonest dealings with documents had been withdrawn by prosecutors – who were also ordered to pay $3150 of her legal costs.

Ms Britten, who once owned a property and development portfolio valued at more than $19m, told The Advertiser it was a “huge relief”.

Ms Britten entering court. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“It’s given me a really good opportunity to think, ‘well what is next?’,” she said.

“If I can dare to dream, I’d love to get back into business – that’s really where my passion lies.

“I’m a natural-born entrepreneur – I have been all my life – and I’m just not ready to let that go yet.

“There’s definitely a whole sense of relief about just being able to get into some normal life.

“I’m just looking forward to being able to enjoy life with my children and my husband.”

Ms Britten – formerly known as Cathy Jayne Pearce, Staker and Hogben – was a BRW rich-lister and property tycoon in the 2000s, prior to her businesses going bankrupt.

In 2005, she authored the book ‘Real Estate Cash from Treasure and Trash’, marketed as the “classic rags to riches story” of “a non-performer at school” who became a success.

Recently, Ms Britten became the owner of Soak House Adelaide and is now embroiled in a dispute with her Richmond landlords, John and Anita Dente, over the shuttering of her business for $9000 in allegedly unpaid rent.

The former rich-lister is now looking forward to spending time with family after her fraud charge was dropped. Picture: Greg Higgs.

This year, she plans to release a self-help book titled ‘Sticks and Stones’ to help children deal with suffering online abuse.

“I’m just trying to turn lemons into lemonade now and move on,” Ms Britten said.

“I’d like to encourage other people when they’re having some down times and it seems like the world’s against them. I want to make a difference.”

After receiving $3150 from SA Police to cover legal costs, Ms Britten is now seeking a further $5000.

In October last year, she pleaded guilty to twice breaching her bail conditions in 2023 and 2024, telling a magistrate she had no one else to blame but herself.

Ms Britten will return to court in March to argue for her sought indemnity costs – as well as a hearing for a driving while disqualified charge which she is yet to enter any pleas for.

Originally published as Cathy Britten has fraud charges dropped by prosecutors, announces plans for future