Andrew O’Keefe appeared upbeat outside court on Tuesday, even joking with reporters that he “can’t stay away from the place.”
Perhaps it was no surprise that the former Deal or No Deal host was in good spirits, having just avoided a criminal conviction for being caught driving with a suspended licence at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
But the troubled former TV star cut a sorry figure after the cameras stopped rolling.
O’Keefe, 52, looked dejected as he stopped to rest on a stone bench in a park in Paddington, in the city’s eastern suburbs.
The former Chase Australia presenter, wearing a turquoise checked suit paired with a tie and socks in varying shades of blue, wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief.
The fallen star took a sip of fizzy Lucozade as he looked into the distance.
At one point he seemed to spit dejectedly on the grass at his feet.
It was a far cry from his heights as host of shows like Weekend Sunrise and The Rich List.
Andrew O’Keefe initially looked upbeat outside court on Tuesday after recording a small judicial victory. But the troubled former TV star cut a sad figure after the cameras stopped rolling.
O’Keefe, 52, looked dejected as he stopped to rest on a stone bench in a park in Paddington, in the city’s eastern suburbs.
The former Chase Australia presenter, wearing a turquoise checked suit paired with a tie and socks in varying shades of blue, wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief.
O’Keefe represented himself in court on Tuesday, where he successfully convinced the magistrate that he was on his way to get his license back when he was stopped by police on June 20 and did not believe he was breaking the law.
He told reporters he had been dealing with “a reasonable magistrate, which is always good.”
Despite his court victory, Judge Michael Allen highlighted O’Keefe’s well-documented criminal record, including convictions for domestic violence and drug possession, which he is currently appealing.
“The sad reality is that you are not a stranger in this place, even if you have committed more serious crimes,” Allen told him.
“It is serious that at the time of committing this misdemeanor you were subject to probation, and that is a factor I am obliged to take into account.”
Judge Allen did not sentence O’Keefe for the offence and instead sentenced him to a 12-month conditional discharge order, a form of probation.
The fallen star took a sip of fizzy Lucozade as he looked into the distance.
At one point he seemed to spit dejectedly into the grass at his feet.
Asked if he thought his career was turning around, O’Keefe told reporters: ‘Well, I hope so, there’s still a bit of a journey to go, but we’ll find out shortly.
“I’ll see you (in court) again tomorrow,” he said.
He faces charges of driving with a suspended license and intimidation following an unrelated incident last month.
O’Keefe has yet to enter a plea, but will appear in court again on August 28 to learn his fate after appealing a series of domestic violence and drug-related offences.
Police officers He arrested the 52-year-old man on Cranbrook Road in SydneyThe affluent suburb of Bellevue Hill at 11.45 am Sunday, July 28 after he was allegedly seen “under the influence of drugs” behind the wheel of a Mercedes sedan.
The roadside test result was positive and officers discovered an ice pipe in his jacket pocket. O’Keefe denied it was his and the Daily Mail Australia does not suggest otherwise.
Andrew O’Keefe appeared upbeat as he left court on Tuesday, even joking to reporters that he “can’t stay away from the place.”
But he still has many legal problems to overcome.
The former game show king’s fall from grace and public battle with addiction (which landed him in rehab more than ten times) is a story all too depressingly familiar to Andrea Simmons.
The former millionaire, who lost her family, her wealth and her health to methamphetamine addiction before overcoming it and founding a recovery programsaid he wanted to offer help to O’Keefe.
“I would love the opportunity to speak to Andrew, to try and do that because I have a high success rate in getting out of chaos,” Simmons told Daily Mail Australia.
“I would love to see him restored. I honestly hate seeing people fall from glory like that. I know how to fight that battle and I feel like I can help him.”
Ms Simmons compared O’Keefe to AFL star Ben Cousins, who overcame his own public battles with addiction and brushes with the law to land a presenting spot on Channel Seven.
The former game show king’s fall from grace and public battle with addiction is a story all too depressingly familiar to Andrea Simmons, who has urged him to reach out and seek help.
Ms Simmons (pictured) lost everything to her ice addiction and became a petty thief who scavenged cigarette butts. But she got over it and believes O’Keefe can too.
The activist, who spends her time teaching in schools, juvenile detention centers and prisons to warn young people about the dangers of addiction, said she knew O’Keefe was “suffering.”
“Being in the spotlight for things like drugs and getting caught by the police, having court cases, I’m sure he’s suffering,” she said.
“He is suffering from the loss of a family member, shame and depression. I know the way and it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Simmons still believes O’Keefe can find redemption from his troubles.
“The road back after a fall from grace like Andrew suffered is extremely difficult,” Simmons said.
‘You’re fighting your own inner demons. You feel like a failure and you’re asking yourself, “Who am I? What did I do?” I gave drugs to women with children. Where are they now?’
But Ms Simmons said the only way to recover was to reserve judgment.
“Anyone can fall off their pedestal tomorrow in the blink of an eye,” he said.
“Who are we to judge? Shouldn’t we help each other get back up again?”
‘I’m really looking forward to going and sitting down with Andrew and reflecting back to him who he really is.
“He’s someone who’s had a beautiful career. He’s someone who’s touched a lot of lives and he can take that back. Just because he made a mistake doesn’t mean he failed.
“He can get back on the horse.”
O’Keefe declined to comment.
