Andrew O’Keefe is “lucky to be alive” and has been told jail could be the best place for him “if he wants to stay alive” after the former TV star received a scathing rebuke from a magistrate.
The troubled former television personality was back in court on Tuesday after being charged with drug possession and violating bail conditions, two days after he was hospitalized following a heroin overdose.
“I shake my head,” Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said as O’Keefe’s case was called at Waverley Local Court.
The former Deal or No Deal presenter was treated by police and paramedics and hospitalised after suffering an overdose at his Vaucluse unit early on Saturday morning.
Emergency services were called to the home on Old South Head Rd at around 3.40am in response to a call of concern for welfare.
The 52-year-old man was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital where he was treated and later released.
“He’s lucky to be alive,” Milledge said as he read from court documents Tuesday morning.
Police have launched an investigation and O’Keefe was arrested on Monday afternoon at Rose Bay Police Station.
Andrew O’Keefe was arrested after suffering an overdose over the weekend. Photo: NewsWire/Max Mason-Hubers
Judge Jacqueline Milledge (pictured) described her case as “absolutely tragic” and “absolutely sad”.
Police have also alleged that during a search of a nearby vehicle they discovered prohibited drugs, which were sent for further analysis.
According to court documents, O’Keefe was allegedly in possession of crystal methamphetamine.
He was charged with breach of bail and possession of a prohibited drug before being refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.
O’Keefe was not present in court and his lawyer did not file a bail application on Tuesday, meaning he would remain in custody on remand.
“If he wants to stay alive, that’s the best thing he can do,” Milledge said.
The court was told he could make a bail application to be released to a rehabilitation centre when he returns to court on October 10.
But Ms Milledge said “he has done all that” and described his case as “absolutely tragic” and “absolutely sad”.
“He walks through that door, he’s a frequent flyer, he’s so used to it,” Milledge said, noting that he had been in court multiple times, had filed petitions to deal with mental health charges and had been placed in rehab.
She said “they had all been tried and failed.”
“God help him, it’s a shame he doesn’t have an epiphany,” Milledge said.
He is alleged to have breached bail after being charged in connection with allegations he threatened a man at a Point Piper address shortly before he was stopped while driving and found in possession of a crack pipe.
In August, he pleaded not guilty at Waverley Local Court to charges of intimidation, entering fenced land without permission and breaching a restraining order.
These matters will be heard along with the new bail and drug charges on October 10.
He appeared at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday. Photo: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard
The overdose occurred just six days after O’Keefe successfully overturned a drug conviction, but did not overturn domestic violence convictions, in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court last week.
The former Channel 7 star and domestic violence prevention ambassador was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months and three 18-month community sentences in January after the magistrate ruled he had inflicted a “frightening and degrading” attack on a woman.
Last Monday, Judge John Pickering dismissed her appeal, after arguing that the victim had told lies.
The former The Chase presenter also successfully appealed his conviction for possession of the illegal drug mephedrone, known as ‘meow meow’.
Judge Pickering found there was reasonable doubt as to whether O’Keefe was aware the drugs were stored inside his apartment.
He accepted the appeal and overturned the drug conviction.
