Guy Sebastian’s neighbour in court over alleged death threats
Guy Sebastian’s neighbour claims he was arrested on the toilet after he allegedly threatened to kill the musician over a long-running feud.
Guy Sebastian’s neighbour has claimed police broke into his house to arrest him while was on the toilet after he allegedly threatened to kill the musician and kicked over his fence.
Phillip Richard Hanslow, 66, allegedly escalated the long-running feud between the neighbours when he confronted Mr Sebastian outside their Sydney homes on January 23.
Police confirmed they were called to Maroubra about 1.30pm following reports of a dispute between neighbours involving threats.
Mr Hanslow was arrested and charged with stalking with intent to cause physical harm and damaging property.
Speaking to reporters, he slammed his famous neighbour’s escalation of what he characterised as a simple dispute.
The 66-year-old said he was “surprised” by the charges and “the whole ordeal” outside Waverley Court on Thursday.
He said police broke down his door while he was on the toilet to arrest him for “just a heated argument” between neighbours.
“It’s been blown right out of proportion and unnecessary,” he said.
The Maroubra resident said the ordeal had been stressful, especially as he continues to suffer from fibromyalgia, herniated discs and sciatica.
“I’m 66, sort of on the way out, my whole body’s worn out from years and years of working as a tradie so it’s not always easy to deal with what’s in front of me,” he said.
Police believe the alleged death threats were the culmination of six years of tensions between the neighbours that began in 2016 when Mr Sebastian and his wife Jules were building their home.
The couple bought their $3.1m home in Maroubra in 2013 and spent nearly three years overhauling it to create their “fortress-like” house.
Mr Hanslow appeared in Waverley Local Court on Thursday dressed casually in a red collared T-shirt, dark pants and a wrist guard.
He represented himself in court to ask for an adjournment to seek legal advice and to have a medical procedure done.
The court was told he would be having an infected bowel removed during a surgery later this month.
Magistrate Ross Hudson agreed to adjourn the matter and the AVO until March 9 to allow Mr Hanslow to undergo the medical procedure.
“You must be in a position on 9 March to enter a plea,” he told the 66-year-old.
Mr Sebastian sought an interim apprehended violence order against his neighbour that was granted.
Under the terms of the court order, Mr Hanslow is prohibited from contacting the inaugural Australian Idol winner or entering his property.
The 66-year-old is also banned from possessing a firearm or illegal weapon.
Mr Sebastian’s new legal battle comes after a tumultuous year for the pop star who was embroiled in a lengthy trial last year involving his former manager Titus Day.
Mr Day was found guilty of embezzling $600,000 from the singer during their decade-long relationship.
Mr Sebastian’s former right hand man was sentenced to at least 2½ years in jail for his creative accounting.
While he refused to comment on what Mr Sebastian was like as a neighbour, Mr Hanslow said the Australian public could “read between the lines”.
Mr Sebastian made headlines in 2003 when he won the first iteration of Australian Idol.
From that humble beginning, Mr Sebastian became an internationally recognised and multi-award-winning singer and songwriter.
He also mentored new talent as a judge for musical talent shows The X Factor and The Voice Australia.
NCA NewsWire has contacted Mr Sebastian’s manager for comment.
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