Home Australia Disgraced gameshow host Andrew O’Keefe fails to face court for his latest drug-driving charge after he was warned: ‘The next step is jail’

Disgraced gameshow host Andrew O’Keefe fails to face court for his latest drug-driving charge after he was warned: ‘The next step is jail’

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Fallen game show host Andrew O'Keefe did not appear in court on Monday as his latest drug driving charge came before a magistrate for the first time.

Fallen game show host Andrew O’Keefe did not appear in court on Monday as his latest drug-driving charge came before a magistrate for the first time.

O’Keefe’s lawyer, Jahan Kalantar, referred to the existence of a previous non-publication order when the case was briefly mentioned in Waverley Local Court, but did not publicly explain his client’s absence.

Kalantar handed a document to magistrate Stephen Barlow, who agreed to adjourn the matter until next month.

O’Keefe allegedly tested positive for methylamphetamine while driving his Mercedes C200 in Sydney’s eastern suburbs six months ago, but was not charged until late November.

The former Deal or No Deal and The Chase Australia presenter, 53, was stopped for random testing on Cranbrook Road in Rose Bay about 11.30am on July 28 last year.

A negative breath test was followed by a drug test that reportedly returned a positive result. A subsequent oral test at Waverley police station also reportedly came back positive and a sample was taken for further analysis.

Shortly before O’Keefe was arrested that day, he had confronted a man at a Point Piper property he was prohibited from attending.

Following investigations, O’Keefe was charged with contravening an apprehended violence order and stalking/intimidating with intent to cause fear.

Fallen game show host Andrew O’Keefe did not appear in court on Monday as his latest drug driving charge came before a magistrate for the first time.

He was released on bail after appearing at Waverley Local Court, but was arrested again at Rose Bay police station in September when police found methamphetamine in his car during a search.

Two days earlier, O’Keefe had overdosed on heroin at a party and needed to be revived by paramedics.

O’Keefe pleaded guilty in October to criminal trespass, failure to comply with an apprehended violence order and possession of crystal methamphetamine in connection with the events of July 28.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge fined O’Keefe $500 for trespassing and $1,000 for possession of a prohibited drug.

For breaching the AVO, Ms Milledge sentenced O’Keefe to a 30-month community corrections order requiring him to attend rehabilitation.

At the same time, he was fined $2,000 for driving with an illicit drug in his system in Darlinghurst in April and disqualified from driving for three months.

On that occasion, Jacqueline Milledge assured the television star that she would face time behind bars if she continued to break the law.

“You have been given many opportunities to do something about your drug use,” Mrs Milledge told O’Keefe.

O'Keefe allegedly tested positive for methylamphetamine while driving his Mercedes C200 in Sydney's eastern suburbs six months ago, but was not charged until late November. He is seen during a previous arrest.

O’Keefe allegedly tested positive for methylamphetamine while driving his Mercedes C200 in Sydney’s eastern suburbs six months ago, but was not charged until late November. He is seen during a previous arrest.

‘I can assure you that the next step is jail. I’m not just saying that, I mean it.

“It’s gotten to a state where the court would believe it simply can’t be rehabilitated.”

Milledge told O’Keefe that his life had “just gone completely off the rails” and that it was his responsibility to fix it.

“I know domestic violence is a factor in crime and that’s horrible, really horrible,” she said.

“You grabbed onto something horrible and the wheels fell off.”

The magistrate said she remembered telling O’Keefe “God help you” during a previous court appearance.

“Personally, I’m disappointed that you are where you are and you haven’t managed to recover,” she said.

“I just wish you would get back to a position where you can do something for the community again.”

At that point, O’Keefe’s lawyer told Ms. Milledge: “This, Your Honor, is what we say is the final crossroads.”

Offbeat game show host Andrew O'Keefe has been arrested again on a drug driving charge, three months after he was warned he was one wrong step away from jail.

Offbeat game show host Andrew O’Keefe has been arrested again on a drug driving charge, three months after he was warned he was one wrong step away from jail.

O’Keefe has waged a public battle against drug addiction and has been in and out of rehab centers for the past few years.

He was found guilty in January last year of domestic violence and drug offenses following a “degrading” attack on a woman who cannot be identified.

The drug conviction was later overturned, but O’Keefe lost an appeal against the assault convictions in August.

In December 2023 he escaped conviction after pleading guilty at Downing Center Local Court to driving through Point Piper with drugs in his system earlier that year.

O’Keefe had been stopped while in charge of his Mercedes C200 sedan in January and tested positive for methamphetamine.

A second oral fluid sample provided at Waverley police station tested negative but was later deemed positive after further analysis.

During sentencing in 2023, Magistrate Miranda Moody said O’Keefe had since returned negative drug tests and was being treated by a psychiatrist and psychologist.

“To his credit, he clearly has had some problems with illicit drug use and I have been provided with material regarding his drug use or lack thereof,” Moody said at the time.

None have been detected for a long time. They have also provided me with a report from a psychologist and a psychiatrist. He is undergoing treatment.

“Given the enormous amount of work Mr O’Keefe is doing in relation to his health and drug problems, I am prepared not to record a conviction.”

Moody sentenced O’Keefe to a 12-month community release order.

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