NSW minister Matt Kean sued for defamation by car dealer Bevin Clayton

A luxury car dealer who sold high-end vehicles in Sydney is suing a government minister over a public statement made in 2017.

EXCLUSIVE

A luxury car dealer who was acquitted of swindling his high-end customers is suing NSW government minister Matt Kean for defamation over a public warning issued 3½ years ago.

In September 2017, when he was the minister for better regulation, Mr Kean released a forceful statement telling the public to steer clear of Bevin Ronald Clayton and his Woolloomooloo car dealership Clayton Bespoke.

Bevin Clayton was the director of Woolloomooloo car dealership Clayton Bespoke.

Mr Kean noted the dealership stocked Rolls Royce Phantoms and Teslas before saying its customers had either not received payment or had cheques bounce. He labelled Mr Clayton’s conduct “simply not good enough”.

Mr Clayton was charged after 11 complaints and 16 inquiries were made about Clayton Bespoke to NSW Fair Trading, prompting an investigation.

In May 2020, he was acquitted on appeal in the District Court of three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and one of providing false documents.

Last week Mr Clayton filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr Kean in the Federal Court, alleging the minister falsely suggested he was a dishonest dealer who ripped off customers to the tune of $1 million.

Matt Kean warned the public not to deal with Mr Clayton. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

His claim was signed off by Sue Chrysanthou SC, the barrister briefed by Christian Porter to act in the former attorney-general’s defamation case against the ABC.

Ms Chrysanthou is no stranger to defamation cases involving politicians, having also represented Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young in her case against David Leyonhjelm and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in her settlement with senator Linda Reynolds.

Mr Clayton is suing over a statement published on Mr Kean’s official website and promoted on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Mr Clayton claims Mr Kean defamed him by painting him as a “thief” who was so dishonest and untrustworthy as a car dealer that a public warning was necessary.

He also alleges the minister falsely implied he had “failed to account to his customers for significant sums of money and, in some cases, even for their vehicles which they had entrusted to him for sale”.

Mr Clayton’s claim was signed off by high profile defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Mr Clayton states in court documents he asked Mr Kean to take down the statement on February 11 this year, but it remained up at the time he filed the lawsuit.

He is seeking damages and an injunction restraining Mr Kean from republishing any statements about him found to be defamatory.

He alleges Mr Kean’s conduct was made worse by the minister’s failure to afford him a right of reply before releasing the statement and by promoting the statement in media interviews and on social media.

Among the people Mr Clayton identifies as having downloaded Mr Kean’s statement is the federal member for Bennelong John Alexander.

Clayton Bespoke was placed into administration on September 25, 2017.

NSW Fair Trading said it had cancelled Clayton Bespoke’s motor dealer’s licence in October 2017, and it was no longer pursuing any action against Mr Clayton.

Mr Kean declined to comment. Mr Clayton’s solicitor did not respond to inquiries from NCA NewsWire.

Originally published as NSW minister Matt Kean sued for defamation by car dealer Bevin Clayton