KPMG executive on assault charge

A senior KPMG staffer has faced court in Sydney after he was charged with headbutting a builder renovating his home.

KPMG associate director Daniel Dunkley, who has been charged with assault, leaves Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Picture: Liam Mendes

An associate director at professional services firm KPMG has been charged with common assault after allegedly concussing and sending to hospital a Sydney builder renovating his property.

Daniel Dunkley was arrested and put in handcuffs by police after he allegedly headbutted the man last Wednesday outside an inner-city eastern suburbs property he and his wife – a senior executive at Macquarie Group – jointly own.

The alleged victim, Alexander Houlton, is understood to be managing the renovations of Mr Dunkley’s three-storey property, bought for $2.3m in 2019.

According to a development application, the renovation is worth more than $180,000.

Mr Dunkley is alleged to have threatened to “ruin” Mr Houlton with the help of his wife, Rachael Chan, who is the global head of projects at Macquarie Group. “My wife’s a lawyer, we will ruin you,” he is alleged to have said after allegedly trying to enter the construction site unlawfully, court documents reveal.

Ms Chan confirmed to The Australian she was not a lawyer.

“About 9am on Wednesday, 24 August, 2022, police were called to Moore Park Rd, Centennial Park, following reports of an assault,” a NSW police spokeswoman said.

“A 45-year-old man was arrested at the scene. He was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with common assault.”

Police have also taken out an interim apprehended violence order, which prevents Mr Dunkley from approaching or contacting Mr Houlton.

Mr Dunkley, whose LinkedIn profile states he has been working at KPMG since May 2020, was granted strict conditional bail, with conditions stating he must not approach, contact or visit any place Mr Houlton lives or works, and he must be of good behaviour.

He is also prohibited from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing and intimidating Mr Houlton. Sources familiar with the investigation said a labourer loading a tip truck witnessed the alleged assault by the military veteran, who, according to LinkedIn, provides “specialist project advisory and infrastructure advice to government and corporate clients” for KPMG.

“I’ve been in the army for 13 years; I don’t give a f..k about you, or what you stand for, you are ­terminated,” he is alleged to have said.

He then allegedly headbutted Mr Houlton at the front of his forehead, causing the back of his head to hit a glass window.

Following the incident, the victim was taken to hospital.

The Australian understands the labourer who witnessed the incident has given a statement to police. On Wednesday, Mr Dunkley faced magistrate Jennifer Giles, where the AVO was briefly mentioned.

Asked outside court whether he would defend the allegations, Mr Dunkley told The Australian he would not comment.

“It’s in front of the courts; I’ve got nothing to say,” he said.

It had been previously alleged that Mr Dunkley in 2006 tried to kiss and touch the breasts and groin area of an army officer.

A jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all charges in February 2010.

The alleged assault matter returns to court on October 6.