Summary: Former TV star Andrew O’Keefe will leave jail to enter a three-month drug rehabilitation program after a near-fatal heroin overdose, as part of his sentencing for drug possession, trespassing, and breaching a court order. The 53-year-old made an emotional plea for recovery, citing his three children as his motivation. O’Keefe, who tested positive for methamphetamine in April and has faced multiple legal issues, was fined $3,500 and placed on a 30-month community corrections order.

Troubled TV star Andrew O’Keefe will leave jail and enter drug rehabilitation in a desperate attempt to turn his life around after a near-fatal heroin overdose.

The 53-year-old made an emotional plea for his own recovery for the sake of his three children – who he called the “dearest things” in his life – as he was sentenced for his latest wrongdoing.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge agreed with his lawyers in Waverley Local Court that he should go into a three-month rehabilitation program, adding that should happen as soon as possible.

“People do feel sorry for you,” she told O’Keefe.

“The fact that you nearly lost your life; that would have been absolutely terrible.” 

The 53-year-old was fined a total of $3500 after pleading guilty to a drug possession charge, as well as other charges including trespassing and breaching a court order relating to an incident in July.

Prosecutors agreed to withdraw an additional charge of intimidation on condition of the pleas, the court was told.

O’Keefe, who appeared in court via a video link from jail, also admitted driving with methamphetamine in his system after testing positive during a roadside test in April.

He was fined $1000 for possessing a prohibited drug, $500 for trespassing and $2000 for driving with drugs in his system and had his licence revoked for three months.

For breaching the terms of an apprehended violence order, O’Keefe was placed on a 30-month community corrections order, which included a condition that he continue with the drug rehabilitation.

The court was told O’Keefe had a strained relationship with his children, who were forced to witness his repeated wrongdoings through the media.

“Those three kids are (the) dearest things to me in my life,” O’Keefe said. 

In a candid appeal to the former TV star, Ms Milledge urged him not to squander those relationships and to love his children more than the life he was living with drugs.

“You’ve got three wonderful children that are successful and doing well with their lives despite you,” she said.

Ms Milledge said the general public saw the “pathos” in O’Keefe’s situation and wanted him to succeed.

“Nobody says ‘isn’t he a monster’,” she said.

“Everybody says ‘isn’t that a shame’.”

Ms Milledge noted domestic violence had been an element of O’Keefe’s offending, which she described as particularly awful given his previous role chairing advocacy group White Ribbon.

“I truly believe that in those days you believed it,” she said.

The former game show host had his bail revoked in September, days after experiencing a reported overdose at a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Following the incident, O’Keefe reported to Rose Bay police station where he was arrested and his grey Mercedes searched, with police finding a “clear resealable bag containing a clear crystal substance”.

He had been on bail at the time after allegedly breaching an AVO, trespassing and intimidating a man in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in July.

In that instance O’Keefe attended the home of a woman who was the subject of the AVO against him.

A male friend of the woman told O’Keefe to leave, to which he replied “you can’t f***ing tell me what to do, f*** you,” according to court documents. 

O’Keefe was a Seven presenter for more than 15 years, most notably hosting game show Deal or No Deal and breakfast program Weekend Sunrise.

He was convicted of domestic violence offences in January and had an appeal dismissed earlier in September.

An appeal against other drug possession charges was upheld and the conviction quashed.

O’Keefe’s lawyer Jahan Kalantar told the court on Thursday his client is at a crossroads, where one path led to institutionalised behaviour and the other to getting his life back together.

“The option, we say, is a real chance for this man to get his life in order,” he said.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14