Freddie Blencke charged with drink driving despite alcohol ban

A top Sydney banker has been charged with high range drink driving despite being banned from drinking alcohol.

A top Sydney investment banker banned from drinking alcohol as part of his strict bail conditions has been charged with drink driving at almost four times the legal limit.

Freddie Blencke, 49, has been in the Byron Bay area ever since choosing to attend a rehabilitation clinic earlier this year after a Waverley Local Court magistrate bailed him on multiple charges of assaulting his ex-wife at the Vaucluse home they once shared.

But police allege that on February 26, Blencke returned a reading of 0.183 at a roadside breath test.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said Blencke was arrested on Byron St in Bangalow about 8.50pm behind the wheel of his silver Mercedes sedan.

Police sources said the fund manager smelled of alcohol, appeared confused and his speech was slurred.

Freddie Blencke has been charged with drink driving, despite being under strict bail conditions that prevent him from consuming alcohol following the alleged assault of his wife Annabelle Price.

Blencke was charged with high range PCA and breach of bail and is set to face Tweed Heads Local Court on March 21.

His relocation away from Sydney’s eastern suburbs up to the Byron Hinterland was approved by Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge in January, who said getting Blencke out of Sydney was a key reason she could grant him bail on charges of assaulting his wife Annabelle Price, contravening an AVO and breaching his bail.

“This isn’t to solve the marriage breakdown, this is to ensure proper behaviour,” Magistrate Milledge said.

“We’re not working as a conduit to try and mend their broken relationship.

“He’s out of control.”

At that bail hearing the court heard of another alleged incident which saw Blencke charged with assaulting two police officers while drunk at popular Bondi pub Hotel Revesis.

Police allege Blencke returned a roadside breath test reading of 0.183, almost four times over the legal limit.

Blencke is due to face Tweed Heads Local Court on March 21.

His defence barrister John Korn said his client planned to undergo marriage counselling.

“Clearly his out of control behaviour is something that needs to be addressed,” Mr Korn said.

Blencke – who has worked for UBS, Goldman Sachs and Bell Potter – allegedly assaulted Ms Price about 7pm on August 16, before police arrived close to an hour later and apprehended him.

He was charged with one count of assault, while police also took out an interim apprehended violence order for the protection of Ms Price.

On another occasion he allegedly assaulted her at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. He is due to face a hearing over that incident later this month.

In a statement provided to The Daily Telegraph in December, Blencke said he “denied” assaulting Ms Price.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said Blencke was arrested on Byron St in Bangalow about 8.50pm behind the wheel of his silver Mercedes sedan.

“I categorically deny the allegations and condemn the use of AVO proceedings to obtain leverage in post separation conflict, diverting policing and court resources from genuine victims,” he said.

“I am completely devoted to each of my three children and am determined to fight these false allegations.”

Blencke is next due back in court on March 21 on the drink driving and assault charges.