Chris Judd, Lindsay Fox among famous people who found themselves in a southeast Melbourne court
From footy legends to TV stars, billionaires to social media activists, fame doesn’t cut it when you fall foul of the law. We take a look at the celebs who acted illegally and had to face the consequences in Melbourne courts.
South East
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Being famous has plenty of perks but whether you are footy star Chris Judd or trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, the justice system pays no attention to your celebrity status. Here are a few big names whose fame found no favour when they had to front a Melbourne court.
SNAKES ALIVE
It was more than a game for Carlton and West Coast star, TV pundit and all-round footy legend Chris Judd when he was forced to appear in court.
Judd and his company Three Zebras had tried to handball the blame to his gardener after he was nabbed illegally clearing large swathes of land around his Arthurs Seat holiday home.
He said he had ordered the 3500 sqm rip-out to protect his family from snakes by making the area more visible.
But the council believed the clearance was designed to “create a suburban environment” and an “area for the kids to run around”.
Judd’s company was hit with a $40,000 fine and ordered to pay $6500 in costs.
MORE: CHRIS JUDD FINED OVER SNAKE FEARING LAND CLEARING
Olympia Valance got a role she didn’t want when she had to play defendant in a court case over her poor performance behind the wheel.
The Playing for Keeps and Neighbours star and talent show judge was pinged driving while suspended in her Jeep after losing her licence for accruing too many demerit points.
She told the court she knew she was banned but had “messed up the dates”, and it was an honest mistake.
Told she was a better actor than she was a driver Valance took it on the chin, walking out with a new assignment – to do a road safety course – but keeping her licence intact.
She was also placed on a good behaviour bond and had to pay $450 to the court fund.
MORE: SUSPENDED DRIVER OLYMPIA VALANCE ORDERED TO DO ROAD COURSE
Lindsay Fox might be a behemoth in the business world but the local council wasn’t scared to take the trucking tycoon to task when he grassed part of a public-accessible beach for his own pleasure.
His company W Everton Park faced court for illegally levelling a 4600sq m beachside area, installing an irrigation system and rolling out a turf lawn.
Fox’s lawyers say confusion over the high water mark led them to believe they did not need a planning permit, but the council, and the court, disagreed.
It wasn’t the first fight Fox has had with locals – he has previously upset the council by installing bollards on a beach and neighbours had flown into a rage over him flying his helicopter onto his land.
The company was ordered to pay $20,000 in fines and costs.
MORE: LINDSAY FOX ROLLED IN BEACH LAWN BATTLE
WANT LIES WITH THAT?
Renowned Mornington Peninsula chef Maxwell Paganoni served up an awful dish when he appeared in court to apply to get his car out of impound.
The Max’s Restaurant in Red Hill cook made a meal out of his testimony and he was charged with perjury.
He told the court he wasn’t aware his employee had taken the company car when the worker was caught drink-driving so he requested the impounded vehicle be released back to him.
But there was police evidence that when the worker was pulled over Paganoni was in the passenger seat right beside the drunk.
The magistrate said his “moment of madness” lies were stupid and despicable.
He was given a good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $3000 to the court fund.
MORE: RED HILL CHEF MAXWELL PAGANONI A PERJURER
CHOPPING BOARD CHUCKER
An angry Avi Yemini wasn’t a happy man having to face court – and the media glare – over an assault and threats he perpetrated against his former wife.
The well-known activist, former soldier, failed pollie and now wannabe online journalist had previously told followers he championed women’s rights.
But in reality Yemini brutally harassed and assaulted his ex-wife, whose harrowing victim impact statement stated he had “broken her spirit” and “destroyed her self-worth”.
He had thrown a chopping board that hit her on her head while she prepared dinner, and he had texted her a series of vile and explicit messages.
In court his lawyer said social media had been “absolutely brutal” and he had “become almost a meme”.
He was convicted and fined $3600.
MORE: AVI YEMINI CONVICTED, FINED FOR EX-WIFE ASSAULT
FRONTMAN FRONTS COURT
Another public personality with passionate patriotic views having to face justice was Blair Cottrell, head of the UPF.
The far-right group frontman fronted court over a driving matter, eloquently defending himself and not relying on a lawyer to get him out of trouble for driving while suspended.
The United Patriots Front boss had lost his licence after accruing too many demerit points for using his phone and speeding.
He has a long list of priors including stalking, arson, aggravated burglary, property damage, trafficking testosterone, possessing a controlled weapon and breaching court orders.
He told the magistrate he hadn’t got the VicRoads notice in the mail and it was all Australia Post’s fault.
It seemed to work – he walked free from court with a $1200 fine.
MORE: NO BAN FOR UPF FRONTMAN BLAIR COTTRELL
UP WOLF CREEK
The man behind the lens of iconic films including Wolf Creek, Bad Boy Bubby and Babe was himself the focus of attention after being caught drink-driving five times over the limit.
Producer David Lightfoot collapsed on the street after crashing his car before being taken to hospital and recording a reading of .253.
When he was interviewed the former JP said he had drunk a miniature bottle of vodka 45 minutes before the crash to “calm his nerves” as he was “shaking badly”.
The court heard he was still struggling from issues after being mugged in France and had serious liver problems, meaning if he drank again “it could kill him”.
He was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for two years.
MORE: WOLF CREEK MOVIE MAN'S DRINK DRIVE SHAME
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