A company owned by Australian pop star Tones and I has been fined $20,000 after it was prosecuted by a local council for carrying out unauthorised building works on a Melbourne investment property.
On Monday, the Frankston Magistrates Court was told that Johnny Run Away Pty Ltd, the name of the singer’s company, had pleaded guilty to three charges relating to carrying out unauthorised building works from October to November in 2020.
Tones and I, whose real name is Toni Elizabeth Watson, had all 11 charges against her dropped, the court was told at the beginning of the hearing, but one charge remained against her husband, Jason Scott Bedford.
To that charge, carrying out building works without a permit, Mr Bedford pleaded guilty and was fined $5000.
Prosecutors, who did not press for a conviction against either Watson’s company or Mr Bedford, told the court that a front porch demolition, a construction of a new deck, a stairway, and the removal of an internal wall all occurred without the requisite approval.
The property at the centre of the case was bought by Watson’s company in 2020 for more than $700,000 and was subsequently leased to a tenant.
According to realestate.com.au, the property is now valued at more than $900,000.
The four bedroom, two bathroom block size is listed as 824 sq.m.
Ms Watson, who grew up in Mount Martha on the nearby Mornington Peninsula, rocketed to stardom with the song ‘Dance Monkey,’ which has been played almost three billion times on the music streaming service Spotify.
She has won multiple ARIA awards, including best female artist, best pop relief and best song.
Defence lawyer Sam Bird, who acted for Ms Watson’s company and Mr Bedford, said the latter “accepts full responsibility.”
Mr Bird said Mr Bedford spent significant periods of time touring in Europe, North America and South America, and was not someone experienced in renovating houses.
Bedford, 31, and Ms Watson married in Bali in December.
Prosecutors told the court that Mr Bedford attended the Frankston council offices in December 2022 and said in an interview that his wife owned the property and she had given him permission to carry out the work. Watson is not accused of any wrongdoing.
They said Mr Bedford had told them that he had owned a bricklaying company in the past and refuted the defence submission that he had no experience in renovations.
Mr Bedford’s lawyer said that in “no uncertain terms” his client understood what was required when carrying out renovations on future investment properties.
The court was told that the maximum fine for Ms Watson was $225,000 on each charge, and $85,000 for Mr Bedford.