A high-profile funds manager described by a magistrate as ‘out of control’ after being charged with bashing his wife has swapped prison greens for a luxury retreat where Nicole Kidman’s Nine Perfect Strangers was filmed.
Fredrik Blencke will shack up at Lune de Sang, an award winning 146 hectare timber plantation in the Byron Bay Hinterland owned by one of his good friends.
The luxury property featured as one of two filming locations for the Hulu mini-series which was filmed in 2020 starring Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Luke Evans.
Blencke was granted bail in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday after his lawyer convinced a magistrate he was no threat to his estranged wife, Annabelle Price.
Barrister John Korn said the 48-year-old funds manager organised accommodation in the town of Federal – 30 minutes outside of Byron Bay – and proposed his conditions include not being allowed in Greater Sydney at all.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge agreed this mitigated any perceived risk to Ms Price, who police allege he assaulted and intimidated on at least two occasions.
Fredrik Blencke (pictured with his wife) was charged with one count of common assault and two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order after an alleged incident at the couple’s home
Fredrik Blencke will shack up at Lune de Sang, where Nicole Kidman’s Nine Perfect Strangers was filmed
The luxury property featured as one of two filming locations for the Hulu mini-series which was filmed in 2020 starring Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Luke Evans. Pictured: The property how it is usually styled on the left, and how it was utilised in the show, right
Police allege Blencke assaulted Ms Price inside a ward of the Sydney Children’s Hospital, prompting several nurses to rush to her aid and order him to leave.
The court heard that a month later, Blencke is accused of acting aggressively inside the couple’s luxury Vaucluse mansion, where they pay $3,400 a week rent.
Accused of breaching an apprehended violence order and bail conditions, the court previously found there was too high a risk to Ms Price if he were free in the community.
But in Lune de Sang, Blencke will be 750km and eight hours away from Sydney’s east, where his ex will remain with their children.
Owner Andy Plummer declined to comment on Blencke’s stay when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
The sprawling property has won multiple architecture awards including being named the ‘ultimate architecture statement’ in the 2019 Architecture by Design awards.
When filming for Nine Perfect Strangers moved Down Under during the pandemic, set designers stumbled across Lune de Sang online.
Immediately, they knew it would blend perfectly with the retreat location they’d already scouted – which was also just outside Byron Bay at the Soma wellness spa.
A high flying fund manager accused of assaulting his wife inside a children’s hospital has been granted bail despite a magistrate describing him as ‘out of control’
The main bedroom (pictured) was Melissa McCarthy’s character’s room in the show
The main bedroom (pictured from another angle) was Melissa McCarthy’s character’s room in the show
A concrete shed on the property was used in the scene where the nine strangers first meet, though CGI technology was ulitised to change the appearance slightly.
The main residence of the house, known as the ‘Pavilion’, was used as the massage room in the Hulu program while the main bedroom was Melissa McCarthy’s character’s room in the show.
Lune de Sang is owned by Andy and Deirdre Plummer, who bought the sprawling estate in 2007 and set about restoring it and creating a sustainable timber plantation.
They planted approximately 140,000 trees and hope future generations will harvest the wood from the trees once they reach full maturity – some of which will take 300 years – to make furniture, flooring and paneling.
It’s understood Mr Plummer was a one-time client of Blencke, who has over 19 years experience in global financial wealth management in London, Madrid and Sydney.
According to his LinkedIn, Blencke specialises in providing bespoke investment management solutions for high net worth clients.
When filming for Nine Perfect Strangers moved Down Under during the pandemic, set designers stumbled across Lune de Sang online
The 48-year-old also volunteered to seek counselling specifically to deal with the breakdown of his marriage
It’s not clear if he will return to work while he hunkers down in Byron Bay until his next court appearance.
He is not permitted to return to Greater Sydney for any purpose other than to attend court.
In the interim, he is required to report to Byron Bay Shire police station each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
The 48-year-old also volunteered to seek counselling specifically to deal with the breakdown of his marriage.
While it’s a great improvement from Parklea Prison in Sydney’s west – which is where Blencke spent Christmas and New Years Eve – he will not be returning to the life he is accustomed to.
He is forbidden from attending any licensed premises, drink alcohol or consume illicit drugs.
‘Not even a Chinese restaurant, Mr Blencke,’ the magistrate told him. ‘You’ll be dining on take away only.’
Bail was granted despite opposition by the police prosecutor, who insisted he posed an unacceptable risk to his estranged wife.
The main residence of the house, known as the ‘Pavilion’, was used as the massage room in the Hulu program
The court heard Blencke ‘struck his fists’ on the island bench in the couple’s kitchen, causing the bench to shake so intensely it was felt by his 12-month-old child, who was sitting in a nearby high chair
The prosecution noted he had previously breached his bail and an apprehended violence order in place for his estranged wife’s safety.
‘With those bail conditions I agree it would be practically impossible to pose a risk to the victim, but that’s on the proviso he complies with bail, which he’s demonstrated he hasn’t in the past,’ prosecution argued.
When describing the alleged hospital assault, she said ‘the accused acted brazenly’.
Court documents state Ms Price called Blencke to inform him their daughter was in hospital on November 14, and that he was slurring on the phone.
‘When the [alleged] victim attempted to ask the accused to assist with her other child he became aggressive and uncooperative,’ the documents state.
‘An argument ensued, leading to the accused then grabbing the [alleged] victim on the left arm and gripping tightly causing immediate pain.’
A concrete shed on the property was used in the scene where the nine strangers first meet, though CGI technology was ulitised to change the appearance slightly
The luxury property featured as one of two filming locations for the Hulu mini-series which was filmed in 2020 starring Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Luke Evans
On December 15, Blencke allegedly ‘struck his fists’ on the island bench in the kitchen, causing the bench to shake so intensely it was felt by a 12-month-old child, who was sitting in a nearby high chair.
He was charged with one count of common assault and two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order.
Magistrate Milledge expressed ‘great concern over [Blencke’s] disposition and described his behaviour as ‘out of control’, but agreed to grant bail.
The court heard prosecutors will be seeking a full time custodial sentence if Blencke is found guilty of the offences he is accused of.
Mr Korn agreed his client’s ‘out of control behaviour needs to be addressed’ but argued a bail application is not the time nor place.
‘I do not intend this bail application to get into the nitty gritty of what happened,’ he said. ‘His out of control behaviour is something that needs to be addressed… and will be dealt with in time.’
Lune de Sang is owned by Andy and Deirdre Plummer, who bought the sprawling estate in 2007 and set about restoring it and creating a sustainable timber plantation
The mini series was released on Hulu in 2021 after filming wrapped in December 2020
The decision to grant bail came after a series of technical difficulties which made it hard for the court to get onto his legal representatives.
At one stage, Magistrate Milledge addressed the court, describing the constant interruptions and technical challenges during Covid as frustrating and noting ‘people deserve better than this system’.
Blencke immediately turned on the charm, agreeing and laughing at the comment before adding: ‘You should see what jail is like.’
‘It’s terrible,’ he added.
The high-profile investment banker and his wife are close associates of Ellie and Charlie Aitken, and Hollie and Christopher Nasser, two former couples at the centre of a society love rift which rocked Sydney’s eastern suburbs in late 2021.
Blencke previously indicated he would fight the charges.
‘I categorically deny the allegations and condemn the use of AVO proceedings to obtain leverage in post separation conflict, diverting policing and court resources from genuine victims,’ he said in a statement provided to the Daily Telegraph.
‘I am completely devoted to each of my three children and am determined to fight these false allegations.’
Fredrik Blencke and his wife are friends with Ellie and Charlie Aitken, and Hollie and Christopher Nasser, socialites in double marriage bust-up Pictured left to right: Blencke, Mr Nasser, Hollie Nasser, Ellie Aitken, Charlie Aitken
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