A former high-flyer in the real estate sector is allowed to get behind the wheel again after he stole a taxi and drove drunk through the city, an action that became the ‘talk of the town’.
Brett Henson tried to get into the silver taxi at 9pm on November 4, 2022, when the door handle broke and he fell backwards.
The 44-year-old claimed in court that the taxi driver, Sayeed Ali Khan, tried to extort money from him for driving the vehicle before he was attacked by a group of five men.
He told the court that the men, who were all ‘much bigger’ than him, told Mr Henson they were the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’. Henson said he saw the taxi theft as his “only option.”
Former Mirvac property director Brett Henson (pictured) has been allowed to get behind the wheel again after stealing a taxi and driving it drunk, which became the talk of the town.
However, Magistrate Gregory Moore rejected his claims and found him guilty of taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent and of driving under the influence of alcohol.
On Monday he told the Sydney Downing Center Local Court that Henson’s actions “cannot be excused” because he believed he was being chased.
The magistrate noted that Henson had been ‘unsteady on his feet’ in the lead-up to the offence, which he said was ‘far from trivial’.
“Taking the taxi was opportunistic and alcohol consumption undoubtedly played a role,” he said.
‘A message must be sent to the perpetrator and others that this behavior is unacceptable.’
The court was told Henson had previously struggled with an alcohol addiction which had been exacerbated by the stress of his work.
He was a senior capital operations manager for property developer Mirvac at the time of the alleged crime, but his lawyer Paul McGirr said he had not worked for 20 months.
Brett Henson tried to get into the silver taxi at 9pm on November 4, 2022, when the door handle broke and he fell backwards.
He said his client was “highly respected” in the property industry before committing the offenses but “suddenly cannot get a job”.
“The difficulty he has in looking for a job is when you Google his name… (the taxi theft and drink driving),” Mr McGirr said.
‘It’s the talk of the town.’
Mr McGirr said his client had suffered excessive punishment due to media coverage of his drunken crimes, but was trying to return to the property industry.
“He’s really been through a lot in this … as has his family,” he said.
“This is so isolated and so unique for someone who has never been on the radar before.”
Mr Moore agreed with the publicity and Henson’s extended driving ban amounted to a fine, claiming he was a person of previous good character and good prospects for rehabilitation.
He convicted Henson of both offenses and fined him $3,500.
Brett Henson (pictured left) was convicted of both offenses and fined $3,500. Following his arrest in November 2022, he was also banned from driving for 15 months, meaning he can immediately resume driving
The former Mirvac director was also banned from driving for 15 months from the date of his arrest in November 2022, meaning he will be allowed to drive again immediately.
Outside court, Mr McGirr reiterated that Henson had ‘acted under duress because he had been assaulted’.
“In retrospect, he probably should have taken a better option: run away or try to get his cell phone out and call the police,” he said.
“But he wants to put this behind him now and get back to work.”
Henson has decided not to appeal the convictions or fines imposed on Monday.
“He just wants to get on with his life and hopefully not be on the news or in the papers anymore,” McGirr explains.