Bombshell development in the Madeleine West case: Neighbours star’s next move after being ordered to stay away from celebrity chef Shannon Bennett’s dad is revealed in court
- West allegedly pushed Shannon Bennett’s father
- She was hit with apprehended violence order
- She has launched an appeal against decision
Former Neighbours star Madeleine West has formally launched an appeal after an AVO was taken out against her to protect her ex father-in-law.
West, 42 – who was married to celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, 47 – is accused of pushing Shannon’s father Benny Clifton Bennett, 75, at his son’s home last year.
West has previously denied the allegation and fronted Byron Bay Local Court for two days last month in a bid to fight the apprehended violence order.
Prosecutors alleged West pushed Mr Bennett and forced her way into her ex-husband’s home on May 4, 2022.
The court was shown CCTV of West and Mr Bennett at her ex-partner’s home while the MasterChef star was in the US. Magistrate Stafford then ruled the two-year domestic violence order against West be upheld.
The 42-year-old appealed the decision with the matter briefly mentioned in Coffs Harbour District Court, on the NSW north coast, on Wednesday morning.
Madeleine West and Shannon Bennett are pictured together during their 13-year relationship. She has been hit with an AVO after she allegedly pushed Bennett’s father
The actress did not appear and was represented by her lawyer Farshad Amirbeaggi, with the matter adjourned to June 7.
During last month’s court proceedings, prosecutors allege the incident between West and Mr Bennett left the 75-year-old ‘in fear’ of his ex-daughter-in-law.
The actress vehemently denied the claims, telling a police prosecutor she ‘didn’t lay a hand’ on Mr Bennett.
The AVO means West is banned from approaching Mr Bennett and Shannon’s Byron Bay home when his father is visiting.
‘I am satisfied he fears if visiting his grandchildren he will be harassed by (Madeleine West),’ Magistrate Stafford said last month.
Magistrate Stafford found West had ‘barged her way in’ to Shannon’s house while the chef was overseas and Mr Bennett was at home.
West has launched an appeal against the decision to impose an apprehended violence order against her. The matter was briefly mentioned in court on Wednesday
The encounter was caught on CCTV which Ms Stafford said showed West’s ‘demeanour is almost verging on being aggressive’.
Shannon had revealed in May last year that the separation process between he and West had ‘turned love toxic’.
Shannon was with West for 13 years before they split in 2018. The couple share six children.
West left Melbourne in 2020 and moved to Byron Bay to be near her children who live with Shannon in Byron Bay.
The former soap star bought her own mansion in nearby Suffolk Park, paying $4.6million for a four-bedroom house with a heated pool, open plan-living, spacious sun-filled living areas and a stunning architectural design.