TV presenter Barry Du Bois claims his ‘good character has been smeared’ after driving charge thrown out of court
- Barry Du Bois wins major legal victory
- Driver’s license thrown out of court
A national TV presenter and well-known designer said his character has been “stained” by a driving charge after it was thrown out of court.
Barry Du Bois, co-host of The Living Room, had been charged with driving with his license suspended under traffic laws after being pulled over by police in Bondi at 8:30am on May 17.
However, police dropped the charge in Waverley Court on Wednesday and replaced it with a lesser charge of driving while his license was suspended under the NSW Fines Act.
The 62-year-old was well-dressed in a navy blue jacket, white shirt and black trousers as he pleaded guilty to the “clerical error,” which he attributed to wary of texting scams.
Barry Du Bois, co-presenter of The Living Room, was charged with driving with his license suspended under traffic laws after being stopped by police in Bondi at 8:30am on May 17.
The court heard police apprehended the refurbishment expert at 8.30am on May 17 as he was driving down Hall St in Bondi after noticing his gray Isuzu was missing a front number plate.
Police then discovered that his driver’s license had been suspended days earlier due to an unpaid fine.
Mr Du Bois admitted he received a text message from Revenue NSW but dismissed it as an attempt to swindle money from him.
Outside the courthouse, he explained that he was on high alert for scammers after recently falling victim to a scam that cost him more than $1,000.
“He made a mistake, he got the text,” Magistrate Ross Hudson said in court.
“That’s as high as it goes.”
In his apology letter, Mr. Du Bois explained that his driver’s license had been suspended due to an unpaid fine for a car he had used as part of an ambassadorship for Mitsubishi.
The car had not been in his possession at the time and he had not been informed of the toll fine because he was not the owner, the court said.
Mr. Hudson noted that the author had a “limited” driving record with a “single offense” and noted his consistent philanthropic efforts.
“He has a positive bank of good character through which he has given back to the community in many ways and forms over many years,” he said.
“He should be pardoned for such a mistake.”
The magistrate dismissed the charges and reminded Mr. Du Bois to always check that he is fit to drive.
However, police dropped the charge in Waverley Court on Wednesday and replaced it with a lesser charge of driving while his license was suspended under the NSW Fines Act
Out of court, the designer agreed with the message and said he hopes his legal troubles would serve as a warning to others to be wary of unknown punishments.
He said the driving charge had been very difficult for him and his family, revealing that he had lost an ambassadorship due to subsequent media coverage.
“My good character is now stained,” said Mr. Du Bois.
He said he was “relieved” the ordeal was over when he left the courthouse with his lawyers.
The Cancer Council Australia ambassador will now be able to focus on his health as he continues his long-standing battle against blood cancer.
He grinned that he felt “fight fit” after the driving charge was dismissed.
Mr Du Bois is best known for co-hosting Network 10’s The Living Room for the past decade.
The construction expert hosted the renovation segment of the lifestyle show before the show went on hiatus for a year.