The ruling had been anticipated for several months: Michael Burn, engaged to wealthy entrepreneur Alexandra Jakob, had filed for an AVO against his ex-partner, Geoffrey Williams. This legal move came after Williams made several allegations to the police concerning Ms. Jakob.
Efforts to reach a settlement before the hearing proved unsuccessful. The courtroom drama saw Williams representing himself, dealing with misplaced evidence, and enduring numerous delays before Judge James Howard delivered his verdict on Wednesday morning.
The case largely hinged on a phone conversation between Williams and Ms. Jakob on September 2, 2024, which occurred after Ms. Jakob learned about the past romantic involvement between Burn and Williams.
Williams testified that during the call, Ms. Jakob allegedly made several threats, including a bizarre claim about turning his dog into a carpet for her Ferrari, a suggestion of using a bullet against him, and a provocative inquiry about his husband’s position in their intimate life.
To elaborate on the latter accusation, Williams claimed in court that Ms. Jakob questioned whether Burn, who identifies as bisexual, had played the dominant or submissive role during their past sexual encounters.
When it was her turn to testify, Ms. Jakob, the creator of the popular haircare line BondiBoost, offered her reasons for reaching out to her fiancé’s former boyfriend.
‘I knew you were in a relationship with my fiancé, and I wanted to know more about the sex industry,’ she told the court. (Burn is a former male escort.)
From the outset, Ms Jakob strenuously denied issuing death threats to Williams, who was in a relationship with British-born Burn for nine years before things turned sour.
Alexandra Jakob looked elated as she left Sydney’s Downing Centre with her fiancé Michael Burn on Wednesday afternoon
Burn was seeking an AVO against Burn’s former lover Geoffrey Williams (pictured) who appeared via audio visual link from Melbourne
Appearing via audio-visual link from what appeared to be an office nook in Melbourne, Williams looked nervous on Wednesday as he sat beneath butterfly trinkets, fake plants and a decorative sign you might pick up for $2 at Kmart bearing the words, ‘HOME, FAMILY, LOVE’ – three things he once shared with Burn.
Williams became visibly emotional during the judgement, at times shaking his head and visibly trembling. He looked like a broken man.
The case, which hinged on an alleged recording said to prove Ms Jakob made threats during the September 2024 phone call, ultimately unravelled when it became clear the recording did not exist.
Judge Howard dismissed Burn’s AVO application, but also noted that Williams had been dishonest and lacked credibility.
While Burn and Ms Jakob intend to appeal the decision to dismiss the AVO, their solicitor Javid Faiz told me they were ‘happy with the court findings’ about Williams.
‘In particular, I note the findings concerning the falsity of evidence given by Mr Williams, the determination that aspects of his evidence were dishonest, and the confirmation that the alleged recording did not in fact exist,’ said Mr Faiz.
‘I also note the court’s findings as to Mr Williams’ lack of credibility and the conclusion that his conduct was unsatisfactory.
‘These findings are significant. In light of them, we will be forwarding the judgment to NSW Police and lodging a formal complaint.’
The happy couple appeared to be in good spirits despite the AVO application being dismissed
They are planning to marry later this year at the 17th-century Grantley Hall in England
Williams (left) ran the ‘Jake Ryan’ male escort agency with Burn during their relationship
The couple looked tense at a prior hearing on March 23
Williams, who ran the ‘Jake Ryan’ male escort agency with Burn during their former relationship, had previously accused Burn and Jakob of fuelling a ‘media circus’.
It was a curious claim given that Williams had repeatedly contacted me before eventually getting the attention of Nine’s A Current Affair, which aired not one but two segments on the saga.
Burn – a UK expat who once appeared in the Daily Mail while working as an escort, ostensibly for female clients – was in the process of applying for a partner visa when his de facto relationship with Williams came to an end.
His whirlwind romance with Ms Jakob began in September 2023. By September 2024, the pair were engaged and are now planning to marry later this year at the 17th-century Grantley Hall in England’s Yorkshire Dales.
Adding another layer to the drama, Ms Jakob has also been locked in legal disputes with her ex-husband, Gabriel Jakob, a former Pack & Send worker. The pair were together for 12 years, amassing a fortune through childcare centres before separating in March 2023.
Relations between the former couple – and Ms Jakob’s new partner Burn, who has Alexandra’s name tattooed across his chest – have been anything but amicable.
At a hearing in December, an apprehended domestic violence order was granted to protect Mr Jakob from Burn for 12 months.
The order prevents Burn from contacting or approaching him – except through lawyers – and bars any form of assault, harassment or intimidation.
Two intimidation-related charges against Burn were later withdrawn after he pleaded not guilty. He pleaded guilty to a third charge, which was dealt with under Section 10(1)(a), meaning the offence was proven but no conviction was recorded.
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