Designer Wayne Cooper ‘shocked and distressed’ about DV charges

Mystery surrounds the details behind an AVO taken out against fashion designer Wayne Cooper, who claims to be in ‘complete shock’ and ‘extremely distressed’ about domestic violence charges.

Wayne Cooper and Sarah Marsh's home in Myocum, near Byron Bay.

Mystery surrounds the details behind an AVO taken out against long time fashion designer Wayne Cooper, with the father-of-two claiming to be in “complete shock” and “extremely distressed” regarding charges made against him.

News broke this week that Cooper had been arrested at his Myocum home last month, after police received reports of historic domestic-related violence against his wife, former model Sarah Marsh.

“Following inquiries, officers from Tweed/Byron Police District arrested a 58-year-old man at a home at Myocum about 9.30am, Tuesday May 31, 2022,” a police spokesman said.

“He was taken to Byron Bay Police Station and charged with two counts of common assault (DV). He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court next Thursday (June 9, 2022).”

There is also an interim apprehended violence order in place, as is normal with domestic violence assault charges.

Wayne Cooper and Sarah Marsh in 2013. He said this week that he was shocked at allegations he assaulted her.

However, the arrest and AVO came as a complete shock to Cooper, who had been furniture shopping with his wife only days earlier.

“All I know is I have been in Byron Bay for the last five weeks on my own trying to get renovations done to our new property,” Cooper told Sunday Confidential.

“This charge relates back to 2015/2016 pushing a mobile phone out of my face when being videoed when having an argument over throwing a white teddy bear across our bedroom etc seven years ago.

“All I know is Sarah brought these charges last week and I got arrested in Byron and it was a complete shock to me.

“I had no idea this was about to happen to me and I am in deep shock and extremely distressed.”

When asked whether he was still married to his wife of 25 years at the time of the arrest, Cooper said “Obviously we were together as we just bought a house and new furniture and were planning renovations”.

It’s not the first time there have been accusations of abuse in Cooper and Marsh’s marriage.

Cooper was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond in December 2008 after pleading guilty to assaulting Marsh just days after she had cancer surgery.

At the time, charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidation were withdrawn at Waverley Local Court.

The charges arose from a dispute six months earlier at the couple’s previous home in Tamarama, and Cooper had initially said he would “vigorously defend” them all.

The designer’s barrister Ian McClintock SC told the court the couple’s relationship had deteriorated in the past couple of years and they had sought counselling.

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