Court win for former TV star Peter Everett accused of sexually touching teen
A former TV presenter accused of having sex with a 16-year-old boy will be allowed within tens of meters of the teenager’s home while his passport will be returned so he can travel to Bali for dental treatment.
Peter Everett, one-time host of Network Ten cooking show Ready-made BakingHe was accused of sexually touching the child without consent on July 25 on the NSW Central Coast.
The 67-year-old man, who denied the charge, was arrested the next day and remained in custody overnight before being released on bail.
According to the bail conditions, he was required to stay no closer than 800 meters from the complainant’s home to avoid the risk of escape, to report to the police twice a week and to surrender his passport.
But on Thursday he successfully changed those conditions in the NSW Supreme Court, allowing the teenager to “do some business” at a property on the same street as his home, and is now allowed to travel within 10 meters of it.
Judge Desmond Fagan said he appreciated the “understandable desire of the Crown and law enforcement to prevent contact between the defendant and the complainant” but “did not see how there might be risks of encountering the complainant” when certain circumstances were added.
Accepting the defence’s offer, Fagan said Everett could have driven to the property, parked there, stayed there or in the adjacent 20-metre area and “done what he had to do” and driven away.
“He wouldn’t have to linger,” he said.
Fagan also agreed to delete the requirement to report to the police so Everett could return to Denpasar, Bali, in February and complete dental treatment that began in November last year.
He must give his travel plan to the police and surrender his passport on return.
His lawyer argued that the documents showed that the treatment should be completed within six months.
The judge said it was “unusual” and “exceptional” to grant permission to travel in such circumstances, but said Everett had described an “urgent need” for treatment, the Crown had not questioned the authenticity of the medical documents and it appeared unlikely the travel would “result in a serious risk of flight” or failure to appear in court.
Fagan said the alleged offense “did not involve any violence, nor did it involve any serious stalking or stalking of the young man.”
“The particular incident itself, although criminal, is not the most serious crime of its kind if proven,” he said.
The court heard police opposed deleting Everett’s passport status unless he still had to report to them.
Everett became an interior designer turned TV personality in 1998. Changing Rooms And Renovation Rescue, He reached the pinnacle of his career while hosting the Network Ten show Ready-made Baking From 2006 to 2011, he was replaced by comedian and actor Colin Lane.
His last TV appearance was during the 2013 season. Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
Everett faces a hearing in local court in June next year.
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