Bikini model’s secret tapes key to bitter legal fight

Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley is facing three criminal charges that relate to a recording made by his model ex-girlfriend, a court has heard.

Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley’s former girlfriend Jennifer Cole.

Criminal charges against Ultra Tune mogul Sean Buckley stem from a secret tape over which he’s suing his former flame, a court has heard.

Fresh details have emerged over the charges faced by the car repair magnate, who is tied up in bitter civil court feuds with his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Cole and former employee Anthony Swords.

It comes as Buckley fought to halt the civil court matter which he brought against Ms Cole over 100 recordings she has of him, after he was charged in October with stalking and assaulting her.

The Supreme Court heard Buckley faces three criminal charges that all relate to a recording made by the bikini model.

Buckley was charged with stalking and assaulting Jennifer Cole.

The charges included the assault of Ms Cole from “when the recording was being made” on January 18, 2021, Buckley’s lawyer John Searle told the court.

Mr Searle said Buckley faced two other criminal charges allegedly captured on the recording on January 18, including recklessly causing injury to Ms Cole and making a threat to kill Jimmy Seoud – known as Jimmy Vegas – who ran his Surfers Paradise strip joint, Toybox Gentlemen’s Club.

“Those three charges all relate specifically to events that transpired and are allegedly recorded,” Mr Searle said, stating the authenticity of the tape would be “substantive matters” in the criminal case.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court lists a further nine charges – 12 in total – among them four counts of stalking, one of installing an optical surveillance device and maintaining a listening device.

Sean Buckley with former girlfriend Jennifer Cole.

Mr Searle claimed Buckley would suffer “extreme” prejudice if the Supreme Court civil case wasn’t halted until after the criminal matter.

But Ms Cole’s lawyer, David Baker, called for the case to continue, saying Buckley already waived his right to silence by giving evidence in the civil case about the secret recordings, over which he now faces criminal charges.

Mr Baker read from Buckley’s affidavits, where the magnate denied making threats to kill, denied assaulting Ms Cole, and denied having any plans to kill or hire anyone to kill Mr Seoud.

“He’s now seeking a stay because he’s been charged for the exact same conduct he was well aware of when he commenced this proceeding in the first place,” Mr Baker said.

Mr Swords also faces criminal charges alongside Buckley of installing an optical device and stalking.

The court heard it could be two or three years before the criminal charges against Buckley and Mr Swords are complete in the magistrates court.

Associate Justice Melissa Daly adjourned the civil matter to April 11 to see if the criminal case had progressed.

Meanwhile, Mr Searle said a separate County Court case – where Buckley is suing Mr Swords – would also have to be paused because it too was tied up in the secret recordings.

Buckley’s Ultra Thoroughbred Racing is claiming Mr Swords owes more than $120,000 for feeding and caring for his horses.

County Court documents show Buckley and Mr Swords made an agreement in July 2020 where the magnate would care for the animals, which were delivered to Buckley that same month for “agistment and breeding purposes”.

Buckley’s company, Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd, claims unpaid invoices in service fees for the horses between July 2020 and February 2021.

He also demanded the return of a 2013 Range Rover handed to Mr Swords when he signed on for work in October 2018.

The Herald Sun understands Mr Swords has already returned the car, and remains the General Manager of Ultra Thoroughbred Racing.

The criminal case against Buckley and Mr Swords is set to return to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a mention on January 24.