Simon Baker pleads guilty to drink driving after being caught behind the wheel near Byron Bay
Australian star of The Mentalist Simon Baker has pleaded guilty to drink-driving but avoided trial in northern New South Wales to go surfing in Sydney, 800km away.
The 55-year-old man did not have to appear in person at Mullumbimby District Court on Wednesday morning, with his lawyer appearing on his behalf.
Court documents show that a guilty plea was entered and accepted for driving under the influence of alcohol (first offense).
The Public Prosecution Service has withdrawn one charge, namely attempted driving under the influence of alcohol.
He was arrested in the early hours of July 20 on Booyung Rd in Nashua, about 30km from Byron Bay, and was charged by NSW Police last month.
Baker reportedly divides his time between Tamarama in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs and an estate in Nashua, between Lismore and Byron Bay.
The Devil Wears Prada star has often been photographed driving around Byron Bay in a Tesla. He is due to appear in court for sentencing on September 11.
While his case was being heard in Mullumbimby, Baker was spotted looking fit and in shape in his wetsuit as he rinsed off his lawn after an early morning surf session at Bondi.
Australian star of The Mentalist Simon Baker has pleaded guilty to drink driving but skipped court in northern NSW to go surfing in Sydney, 800km away
While his case was being heard in Mullumbimby, Baker was spotted looking fit and trim in his wetsuit as he rinsed off his lawn after an early morning surf session at Bondi
Two days before his court hearing, Baker appeared dejected as he headed to a workout at the Bondi Icebergs gym.
Baker looked casual in a blue shirt and green shorts, which he paired with a white hat.
Baker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist between 2008 and 2015.
He was recently nominated for a TV Week Logie Award and eleven other awards for his leading role in the Netflix drama Boy Swallows Universe.
Simon Baker pictured walking to Icebergs gym on Tuesday
Baker divides his time between the eastern suburbs of Sydney and Nashua in northern NSW
Baker, who played Robert Bell in the Netflix hit, was previously married to Rebecca Rigg, but they confirmed their separation in 2021 after 29 years of marriage.
The couple is believed to have quietly split in 2020, months before the news was officially made public.
They have three children and jointly own a home in Nashua.
Baker has a long history in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, spending much of his youth in Lennox Head.
After his marriage broke up, he had a brief relationship with Laura May Gibbs, a sportswear designer from Byron Bay.
