Brett William Basile pleads guilty to common assaults, escapes conviction

A southwest Sydney man who recently appeared on Channel 10’s First Dates was charged with common assault. Read what happened in court.

A Bow Bowing man has escaped a conviction after he told an Uber driver who refused to take cash “you’re lucky I don’t king hit you”.

Brett William Basile fronted Picton Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault.

The 47-year-old, who recently appeared on Channel 10’s First Dates, was charged after an incident on February 19.

Court documents show that an Uber driver attended the El Patron Bar and Restaurant at Gregory Hills to pick up customers who were bound for Gledswood Hills.

Brett William Basile who pleaded guilty to common assaults, but escaped conviction at Picton Local Court. The Bow Bowing man had made an appearance on reality show First Dates last month. Picture: Channel 10

Two females entered with Basile, who said he was unable to conduct bank transfers and would have to pay cash when he arrived home.

The documents said that the driver explained that he could not accept cash but that Basile could add his address after they dropped off the women.

At Gledswood Hills, the women got out and told the driver they did not know Basile, so he turned to him and asked him to put in his address.

When Basile said he would pay cash, the driver said he could not do this and an argument started.

Brett William Basile pleaded guilty to common assaults, escapes conviction at Picton Court. Picture: Channel 10/Facebook

The courts said that footage from the car showed Basile reached across the driver and trying to push his arm as he called police.

The documents said that when a friend arrived to take Basile home, he got out of the car and started to use racial slurs before telling the driver “You’re lucky I don‘t king hit you, I was this close” and he jolted forward to scare the victim.

Basile, who represented himself, told the court he had been sick for several weeks after contracting Covid over New Year’s.

“I caught a chest infection and then it turned into pneumonia,” Basile said.

“I was sick in bed for 12 weeks.”

Brett William Basile on reality show First Dates last month on Channel 10. Picture: Channel 10

Basile also told the court he had lost his wife to breast cancer and was the primary provider for two children.

On February 22, he decided to go out with some friends who encouraged him to enjoy himself.

“I drove to Camden Valley Inn and I had I think it was three or four beers,” Basile said.

“I wanted to do the right thing, I didn’t want to drink and drive.

“So one of the guys caught an Uber to Camden and from Camden we went over to Gregory Hills. They had left and I went to order an Uber.”

Basile told the court it was at that point he realised that online banking was down and he would not be able to transfer money to his account linked to Uber.

Picton Court. Picture: Adelaide Lang

He said he approached the two women who were waiting for an Uber and asked if they minded if he got in with them and he would offer to pay the driver cash to drive him home from their destination.

Basile told the court that it was his understanding the driver agreed to this when he arrived at Gledswood Hills, but when they dropped the women off, told him to enter the address into the Uber app.

He said they began to argue over it.

“He told me it was OK to jump in otherwise I wouldn’t have jumped in the first place,” Basile said.

“He wants to kick me out at 1.45am on the side of his road … when he already said it was OK to enter.”

Brett William Basile on reality show First Dates last month on Channel 10. Picture: Channel 10

Basile said when he touched the driver it was “soft as anything” and he only said “thanks for wasting my time”.

He told the court he should have known better. Basile also revealed that he had recently been on a reality TV show and was also being considered for another one.

Magistrate Michael O’Brien said he hoped Basile had learnt that “you need to plan” if going out drinking and that “courtesy costs nothing”.

No conviction was recorded, but Basile was placed on a good behaviour order for 18 months.