Socialite and domestic violence warrior charged with bashing her younger boyfriend

Janelle “Nellie” Tilley, 58, is accused of assaulting her former boyfriend Paris Saint, 34, during their four-year relationship which began after they met in the Greek islands and he moved to Australia.

• 5@5 bulletin: High profile socialite’s assault charge

A Sydney socialite once praised for her bravery in advocating against domestic violence has been charged with bashing her young Greek lover.

Janelle “Nellie” Tilley — who now uses her maiden name Janelle Foster — is accused of assaulting her former boyfriend Paris Saint, 34, during their four-year relationship and while he lived at her Bellevue Hill home.

Tilley, 58 — who was once married to Simon Tilley, brother of James Packer’s one-time confidant Ben Tilley — allegedly threatened to “get someone to break his legs” if Mr Saint went to police.

But in March this year, when the couple’s tumultuous relationship ended, Mr Saint went to police and claimed he had been the victim of ongoing domestic violence.

Sydney interior designer Janelle “Nellie” Tilley, 58, pictured on holiday in Turkey with Paris Saint, 34. Tilley has been charged with assaulting Mr Saint during their four-year relationship. Source: Supplied

Tilley, an interior designer, has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A hearing has been set for March next year.

In the meantime, she must not assault, stalk, threaten or harass Mr Saint under the conditions of an interim apprehended violence order imposed by the court. A lawyer for Tilley said she would defend the allegations.

According to a police facts sheet, the pair met in 2019 when Tilley was holidaying in Greece and he returned home with her and moved into her eastern suburbs home.

Mr Saint was forced to go back to Greece when Covid-19 struck, but returned to Tilley’s home in 2022, where their relationship picked up again.

Janelle "Nellie" Tilley with Benita Kam at the Ralph Lauren Home Launch at the Palmer & Penn Boutique in Double Bay. Picture: Christian Gilles

Nellie Tilley leaves the Downing Centre Court in 2018 after the sentencing of her former boyfriend Phillip de Angelis.

But police allege that on one occasion in 2023, Tilley had returned home from a holiday in Byron Bay when she allegedly accused Mr Saint of having an affair.

Police allege Tilley began physically hitting Mr Saint in the face and scratching him on the neck until blood was visible.

On a separate occasion, Tilley is accused of spitting on Mr Saint during a fight in the car as they drove home from celebrating Valentine’s Day at a restaurant in Woollahra.

In 2018, Tilley bravely told a court about her “terrifying and violent” relationship with millionaire publican Phillip De Angelis, when the pub baron pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

Sydney interior designer and socialite Janelle "Nellie" Tilley, 58, who has been charged with bashing her boyfriend Paris Saint, age 34. Source: Supplied

In a harrowing victim impact statement, Tilley spoke of “unwanted violence” that was “unpredictable, fast and terrifying”.

“Seeing his enraged face is something I will never forget. I can’t ever express how terrifying that is,’ she said at the time.

The mother of three sons told the court she hoped her experience would teach them the importance of being “respectful, honourable and courteous to women”.

“To never bully or intimidate or threaten people,” she said.

De Angelis was sentenced to an 18-month intensive correction order which ended in September 2019.

Afterwards, then NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman praised Tilley for her “bravery” in speaking out against domestic violence.

“I applaud Ms Tilley’s courage in holding her assailant to account for his appalling actions and her commitment to advocating for other victims of domestic and family violence.”

Originally published as Socialite and domestic violence warrior charged with bashing her younger boyfriend