Mirvac executive Brett Henson fights allegation he stole taxi while drunk

A high-flying property executive accused of stealing a taxi while drunk will claim in court he was attacked and chased by a taxi driver in Sydney’s CBD.

Brett Henson, 42, appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday charged with various driving offenses including theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

A prominent figure in the property market, Mr Henson was arrested late last year after photos of the incident were released by NSW Police in pursuit of the alleged culprit.

Police allege Mr Henson stole the silver taxi on Hunter St in Sydney’s CBD while drunk after threatening the driver shortly before 9pm on November 4, 2022.

Officers further allege the Bronte resident was driving dangerously before the vehicle was abandoned several kilometers away in Woolhara with “significant damage”.

Barrister Paul McGirr told the court Mr Henson was “under duress”, having been assaulted by “another party” believed to be part of a group of taxi drivers.

“He (Mr Henson) was knocked down and injured, which the police were informed of,” Mr McGirr said.

“My client takes this taxi and drives it, and appears to be followed by another taxi driver.

“He leaves the scene, goes around the conservatory and ends up on the Eastern Distributor Freeway.

“And above all, he thought he was being followed (…) my client was under duress at that time.”

Mr McGirr revealed Mr Henson was allegedly told by a member of the group that he was a police officer.

He told the court this interaction could explain why Mr Henson did not call triple 0 after the alleged attack.

In his opening statement, Mr McGirr said identity “would not be an issue” in the case, while also relegating allegations about his drunkenness to a “secondary issue”.

Brett Henson, 42, appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday charged with various driving offenses including theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

Officers further allege the Bronte resident was driving dangerously before the vehicle was then abandoned several kilometers away in Woolhara with “significant damage”.

Police prosecutor Mr Philipson told the court he would not produce any form of pharmaceutical or toxicology report into Mr Henson’s alleged intoxication.

On Wednesday, Mr Philipson played a video in court of the moments before the alleged taxi robbery, starting with Mr Henson leaving the Ivy restaurant on George St.

In the video, Mr Henson is seen opening the door of a taxi at around 8.40pm on Hunter St before falling to the ground as the passenger side door opens.

The driver of the taxi, who will later give evidence, is seen leaving the driver’s side and speaking with Mr Henson outside the vehicle for some time.

Suddenly, Mr Henson is seen fleeing the taxi and running into a nearby alley with the driver seen jogging after him.

Another video will be played in court later this afternoon, with testimony from the driver and the alleged pursuer who will appear on AVL from Pakistan.

Mr Henson was allegedly a senior director of capital transactions for property development giant Mirvac at the time of the alleged offense and owns a $3.3 million home in Bronte.

It is understood Mr Henson no longer holds this role.