Geoff Huegill’s wife wanted by at least five boutique businesses

Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill has spoken out for the first time since his wife was accused of ripping off her customers.

Publicist Sara Huegill, 34, was on the hunt for clients for her company Row .A PR, and impressed potential clients with her attention to detail and knowledge.

However at least five clients now claim they paid Ms Huegill for work that was never carried out, A Current Affair reported.

Huegill took to Instagram on Tuesday appearing to speak about his wife’s behaviour saying ‘at times, good people make poor choices’.  

 

Sued: PR businesswoman Sara Huegill (above) was ordered to pay $3540 to swimwear retailer I Dream of Bikini Pty Ltd by a Sydney court last month

Allegations: Mrs Huegill, 35, allegedly allegedly stole a pair of leather pants worth $2,500 from exclusive Byron Bay boutique Bassike on Sunday

Allegations: Mrs Huegill, 35, allegedly allegedly stole a pair of leather pants worth $2,500 from exclusive Byron Bay boutique Bassike on Sunday

Ms Huegill signed up the bikini business as one of her clients but then did not carry out publicity work as promised, according to co-founder director Allie Lissing (pictured)

Ms Huegill signed up the bikini business as one of her clients but then did not carry out publicity work as promised, according to co-founder director Allie Lissing (pictured)

Geoff Huegill took to Instagram to post a vague apology, alongside a photo of the couple.

‘We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. But that doesn’t make us bad people,’ he said.

‘There are no excuses for the poor choices, however, when we look back at a moment in time, naturally there are things we would all do differently.

‘I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who have supported us and those who continue to support us in these challenging times.

‘Naturally there are two sides to every story, and there will be a time, when we as a family will share our side. 

‘For now, my primary focus is to make sure that the health and well-being of my best friend is managed, so she can be the best person she can be for herself and for our family.’

She was ordered to pay $3540 to swimwear retailer I Dream of Bikini by a Sydney court. 

Ms Huegill signed up the bikini business as one of her clients but then did not carry out publicity work as promised, according to co-founder director Allie Lissing.

‘All of the pre-work that you’re supposed to do to get a client, she did.’

Ms Huegill asked for $3300 up front, and Allie paid her the money.

Geoff Huegill took to Instagram to post a vague apology, alongside a photo of the couple

Geoff Huegill took to Instagram to post a vague apology, alongside a photo of the couple

'We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. But that doesn't make us bad people,' he said

‘We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. But that doesn’t make us bad people,’ he said

Despite claims of media releases and an improved website, Ms Lissing said ‘nothing had been done’.

Ms Lissing said she asked for a refund but she did not hear from Ms Huegill. She is yet to see any of the money she paid.

Ms Lissing’s claims were echoed by Jay Sylvester and Daniel Leshak, who met the Huegill’s while promoting their health drink BB Unleashed.

Ms Huegill had claimed she could get the company featured on morning television and in health magazines.

They paid Ms Huegill $6000 for a contract, and also paid courier costs so she could send the drink to social media influencers.

However the company owners say all she did was take a photo of their bottles, and they never had any media releases produced.

‘We didn’t expect the world but just something,’ Mr Sylvester said.

Natalia Lydford also paid Ms Huegill for work to be done for her business Island Boheme swimwear

Natalia Lydford also paid Ms Huegill for work to be done for her business Island Boheme swimwear

Aina Swim owner Claire Hall said she continuously tried to follow up with Ms Huegill but she was told not to worry 

Aina Swim owner Claire Hall said she continuously tried to follow up with Ms Huegill but she was told not to worry 

Natalia Lydford also paid Ms Huegill for work to be done for her business Island Boheme swimwear.

‘I was like ‘Oh my God, three months have passed and I actually haven’t seen any work’.

‘I said to her: ‘From a mother, to another mother, I don’t know how someone can do this.’ She seemed to be lacking in all compassion to me.’   

Aina Swim owner Claire Hall said she continuously tried to follow up with Ms Huegill but she was told not to worry.

Anna Scott, who runs the Your Skin clinic in eastern Sydney, said she agreed to pay $1500 in cash and $500 in treatments at the clinic.

Ms Scott claims Ms Huegill came in for treatment which ended up costing $900, $400 over the agreed amount.

Ms Scott said she promised to make the $400 payment in a bank transfer and took a screenshot showing the apparent proof of payment. 

However the money never came through.  

In a statement, Ms Huegill’s lawyer Paul Hunt said she had ‘developed increasing difficulty with anxiety and depression which resulted in inattention to administrative matters such as company registration and Sara taking on more work than she could manage’. 

Ms Huegill (with her husband) signed up the bikini business as one of her clients

But it is understood she then did not carry out her public relations work as promised

Ms Huegill (left with her husband, and right) signed up the bikini business as one of her clients

Ms Huegill was arrested by NSW police on Sunday after staff at Byron Bay's Bassike store allegedly spotted her stashing expensive leggings into her handbag

Ms Huegill was arrested by NSW police on Sunday after staff at Byron Bay’s Bassike store allegedly spotted her stashing expensive leggings into her handbag

Spotted: On Tuesday, she appeared for the first time since news of her shoplifting charge broke

Spotted: On Tuesday, she appeared for the first time since news of her shoplifting charge broke

BMW: Mrs Huegill stepped out of a dark-coloured BMW and walked swiftly into a Byron Bay residential home

BMW: Mrs Huegill stepped out of a dark-coloured BMW and walked swiftly into a Byron Bay residential home

‘Sara deeply regrets the circumstances and apologises unreservedly to her clients. Sara has offered to make amends to clients, some of whom have chosen to ventilate their grievances through a court process, and others have approached the media.’ 

The revelations come at a difficult time for the mother-of-two.

She was arrested by NSW police after staff at Byron Bay’s Bassike store allegedly spotted her stashing a $2500 pair of leather pants into her handbag and leaving without paying.

Ms Huegill said the allegation was ‘FALSE’ when approached for comment. She will face Byron Bay Local Court on June 7.  

She was spotted on Tuesday afternoon for the first time since news of her shoplifting charge broke. 

Video showed Ms Huegill stepping out of a dark-coloured BMW and walking swiftly into a home. 

A lawyer for Mrs Huegill has issued a statement apologising for the alleged shoplifting incident.

‘Sara deeply regrets the incident and apologises unreservedly,’ the statement said.

‘Sara has made good progress recently in being treated for issues related to anxiety and depression and acknowledges this is a setback. 

‘She has asked for privacy and understanding for her family at this time.’

The latest allegations follow Geoff and Sara’s 2014 arrest for cocaine use at Randwick Racecourse and her 2010 termination from Roxy Jacenko’s public relations firm.     

Cocaine: On April 26th 2014, the publicist was charged with possessing cocaine at Royal Randwick, alongside her Olympic swimmer husband Geoff

Cocaine: On April 26th 2014, the publicist was charged with possessing cocaine at Royal Randwick, alongside her Olympic swimmer husband Geoff

A former colleague famously rejoiced after she was charged, declaring that ‘karma’s a b***h’.

Both Geoff and Sara pleaded guilty to drug possession and were handed six-month good behaviour bonds.   

Ms Huegill was sacked by Sweaty Betty PR for sending sports compression wear and supplements to an ‘unknown identity’ without authorization.

A letter to Mrs Huegill from her then-employer was subsequently made public, in which Ms Jacenko wrote: ‘I am most upset and distressed by what has occurred within the business today.

‘The bag of Body Science product was in fact sent yesterday July 20th 2010 and returned to me personally at 8am this morning… it was not approved.’

‘This was also after you denied any knowledge of sending any Body Science product out of the Sweaty Betty PR offices and replied ‘No, no I haven’t sent anything to that person’.’

Good behaviour: Both pleaded guilty to possession and were handed six-month good behaviour bonds

Good behaviour: Both pleaded guilty to possession and were handed six-month good behaviour bonds

At the time, Mrs Huegill told Daily Mail Australia: ‘It was well known at the time that Ms Jacenko was actively looking to terminate my employment for reasons mostly unrelated to performance.

‘In the end, the basis of my termination from Sweaty Betty PR was that I had not sought express authorisation from Ms Jacenko to distribute samples of client product to a third party despite the distribution of client product to potential third-party endorsers being something the industry survives on and something Sweaty Betty PR did every single day.’

After leaving Sweaty Betty PR, she worked at Trend Imports and Glue Store.

Mrs Huegill was reportedly re-hired by Jacenko as a senior publicist in April 2017.

Less then three months later, the women parted ways again, although Ms Jacenko claimed Mrs Huegill was only hired on a short-term basis and insisted the pair weren’t on bad terms.  

Sacked! Many still remember the day she was sacked by Jacenko's Sweaty Betty PR for sending sporting compression wear and supplements to an 'unknown identity'

Sacked! Many still remember the day she was sacked by Jacenko’s Sweaty Betty PR for sending sporting compression wear and supplements to an ‘unknown identity’

 

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