Justin Hemmes: Police take out interim AVO to protect Merivale hospitality baron

Police officers have applied for a court order to protect Merivale boss Justin Hemmes from a man who has been detained for mental health assessment over separate intimidation matters.

Police have applied for an AVO to protect Merivale boss Justin Hemmes from a 48-year-old man. Picture: Richard Dobson

Police officers have applied for a court order to protect Merivale hospitality baron and billionaire Justin Hemmes from a man who has been detained for assessment in a mental health facility over separate intimidation matters.

An apprehended violence order (AVO) has been taken out to protect the hospitality mogul from a 48-year-old man who cannot be named.

According to court records, police made the AVO on July 19 with the matter to be first heard in court next month.

No charges have been laid against the man in relation to the provisional order protecting Hemmes.

It is understood the man is unknown to Merivale hospitality king Hemmes.

In separate matters, the man did not appear via video link at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday with his legal aid lawyer saying he was “unable to get instructions” from his client.

“Clearly he is somebody who is not in any condition to have a conversation,” Magistrate Miranda Moody said.

Justin Hemmes. Picture: Mick Bruzzese

The man, who was in custody on remand, did not make a bail application.

Instead, his lawyer was successful in appealing to Magistrate Miranda Moody for a mental health assessment.

The 48-year-old did not enter pleas to three intimidation charges and contravening an AVO, stemming from alleged incidents, relating to three separate people in June and July.

Court records state the man has been detained in a mental health facility for assessment and if he is found not to be a mentally ill person or mentally disordered, he could be brought back before a magistrate.

The provisional AVO protecting Hemmes will be heard at Waverley Local Court on August 2.