Benjamin Reeves: ‘Astonishing’ move in Playboy model case

A former chief executive has denied breaching a restraining order in place to protect a top model while attending a popular Sydney festival.

A former chief executive was arrested moments after having his name cleared in court over allegations he stalked a top model.

Benjamin Reeves was “vindicated” on Thursday when police withdrew the charge of stalking international model and reality TV personality Simone Holtznagel.

Police previously alleged that the 59-year-old was obsessed with the Playboy model and stalked her from April to July last year in Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs.

Mr Reeves strenuously denied the claims and the charges were dropped by police, who were ordered to pay his legal costs.

Benjamin Reeves is back in court after he was cleared of stalking one of the country's top models, Simone Holtznagel. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

In a shocking twist, the former Australian Association of Graduate Employers chief executive, was arrested just moments after his lawyer said he was “extremely glad” the ordeal was finished.

Police allege he knowingly breached an interim personal violence order taken out against him by Ms Holtznagel at 6.20pm on Wednesday.

His lawyer Osman Samin said Mr Reeves had been innocently visiting Sydney’s Vivid festival with thousands of other people when he had been spotted by the model.

The 59-year-old did not appear in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, but his lawyer Osman Samin told the court he would fight the charge.

“I am instructed to enter a plea of not guilty to the one and only count,” he said.

Ms Holtznagel told police she was concerned after seeing Mr Reeves on six occasions. Picture: Instagram

The court was told Mr Reeves was granted bail after his arrest and he will remain on conditional liberty until he returns to court.

Mr Samin said police had applied for an interim apprehended violence order on Monday, but it had been refused.

In a statement, he said the timing of the charge was “incredible”.

“Last Thursday, Mr Reeves walked out of the Downing Centre Local Court a vindicated man,” Mr Samin said.

“Later that same afternoon, the police decided to again charge Mr Reeves because Ms Holtznagel observed him (and, of course, thousands of others) in attendance at Vivid Sydney.”

The lawyer said it was “astonishing” that the 59-year-old was being prosecuted again so soon after he was cleared of stalking the model.

Ms Holtznagel appeared on the reality TV show SAS Australia. Picture: 7/Remco Jansen

She has also graced the cover of US Playboy.

“The court made serious findings about the merits of the initial prosecution involving Ms Holtznagel,” he said.

“Mr Reeves maintains his innocence and once again looks forward to clearing his name.”

The new charge comes after a court was told Ms Holtznagel’s statements about the alleged stalking were “demonstrably unreliable”.

She had claimed Mr Reeves had stared at her and maintained eye contact on six occasions, either while they passed each other on the street or at a bar in Bondi.

Magistrate Glenn Bartley said CCTV footage clearly contradicted two of the allegations, which were the only ones caught on camera.

Defence lawyer Steven Boland argued the alleged incidents had been coincidental interactions in some of Sydney’s busiest areas.

Mr Reeves has denied breaching the restraining order. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Ms Holtznagel told police she saw him at Vivid light festival in Circular Quay.

He lashed the stalking charge as “embarrassingly lacking in objective support (and) utterly incapable of succeeding”.

“You shouldn’t be able to commit stalking by accident,” he said.

Mr Bartley agreed there had not been “adequate scrutiny” and ordered police to pay Mr Reeves’ legal costs – in excess of $36,000 – as compensation for the unreasonable prosecution.

Ms Holtznagel rose to prominence as a finalist in Australia’s Next Top Model in 2011 and has since modelled in numerous campaigns, even gracing the cover of Playboy in the US.

The buxom blonde added reality TV to her resume when she appeared on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and slogged through SAS Australia.

Mr Reeves will return to court on August 8 over the alleged breach of her protection order.

Originally published as Benjamin Reeves: ‘Astonishing’ move in Playboy model case