Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel is being taken to court by her ex-boyfriend Patrick Kedemos after failing to pay back a $20,000 loan.
The embattled reality star, 36, has reportedly failed to repay the sum to Patrick, which he claims was given to her as a ‘business loan’ in 2018.
After the pair separated following a disastrous trip to Berlin in July 2018, Patrick, 45, has now taken legal action in an attempt to reclaim the money.
‘This is a motive of resentment and bitterness’: MAFS’ Tracey Jewel (left) slams ex-boyfriend Patrick Kedemos (right) for taking her to court for failing to repay $20,000 ‘business loan’
However, Tracey, who is currently on holidays the US with new boyfriend Nathan Constable, is hitting back at Patrick, claiming he’s only taking the issue to court now that she’s overseas and is unable to defend herself.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, Tracey called the court summoning ‘a motive of resentment and bitterness’.
‘If he wanted his money back, he has had plenty of opportunities to do so,’ she said.
‘This is a motive of resentment and bitterness, due to the fact of the timing while I’m away with my current partner Nathan.’
Tracey revealed she has been trying to make a deal to repay the sum to Patrick since he initially filed in August 2018.
Remember her? Tracey was a bride on Married At First Sight in 2018, and was in a TV marriage with ‘alpha male’ Dean Wells
Happier times? The embattled reality star, 36, is being taken to court by Patrick after reportedly failing to repay the sum, which was given to her as a ‘business loan’ in 2018. Pictured: Tracey and Patrick during their ill-fated European trip last year
‘I have been trying to reason with him through his lawyer. I’ve offered him $5000 and $10,000, plus a repayment plan, all of which weren’t accepted or replied to.’
‘The last being in April. And I haven’t heard anything since last week when, to my surprise, I checked my emails to find out he’s taken it to court while I’m away with no time to respond.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Patrick Kedemos for comment.
Court documents sent to Daily Mail Australia by Tracey entail the correspondence between her and Patrick’s lawyer.
‘I have been trying to reason with him’: Tracey revealed she had been trying to work out a repayment plan with Patrick through his lawyer, but had failed to reach an agreement
In the emails, which are dated from March 26 to April 2 this year, Tracey stated that she’s currently unemployed due to ‘ongoing mental health issues’ and is being financially supported by her parents.
However, Tracey said that she’s willing to go on a repayment plan of $250 per month as that’s all her parents, who are both retired, can afford – otherwise she will have to file for bankruptcy.
‘If Patrick won’t accept my payment plan than [sic] I have no choice but to file for bankruptcy which I will start these proceedings on Monday, does Patrick understand if I do that he won’t be paid at all?,’ Tracey wrote on March 26.
Legal troubles: In emails, found in court documents sent to Daily Mail Australia by Tracey, the former reality star told Patrick’s lawyer: ‘If Patrick won’t accept my payment plan than I have no choice but to file for bankruptcy’
Two days later, Patrick’s lawyer responded: ‘My client has asked me to point out that your record of believably makes it unlikely that you will deliver on your promise to pay in installment nor that you will choose to go bankrupt.’
‘You have unfortunately left my client with no other choice than to proceed with the hearing.’
In the same day, Tracey replied: ‘This is my only option otherwise I do have to go bankrupt.’
However, Patrick and his lawyer refused to back down.
Paying it back: Patrick’s lawyer said that ‘if full payment wasn’t received by April 5, we will be proceeding to hearing’
‘My instructions are that the picture you are painting of your circumstances does not correspond to what is evident and known,’ Patrick’s lawyer wrote.
‘My instructions are that if full payment has not been received by April 5, we will be proceeding to hearing.’
‘The picture that is painted is lies and media hate and hype,’ Tracey replied.
She then gave a new deadline for Patrick to agree to her payment plan by April 2 or she would be proceeding with her claim for bankruptcy.
The email was left unanswered and up until Friday, Tracey claims she had not heard one word from Patrick or his lawyer.
The hearing went ahead at the Magistrates Court in Perth on Friday morning.
Enjoying the break: Amid the legal issues, Tracey continues to update her fans on her US road trip with new boyfriend Nathan. Pictured: Tracey in Miami on Tuesday
Amid the legal issues, Tracey has continued to update her fans on her US road trip with new boyfriend Nathan.
The pair have been sharing photos of themselves dining out at restaurants, sipping on cocktails at bars, relaxing by the pool and visiting the Disney World Resort.
‘Hands down the holiday of my dreams,’ she wrote in one post, before outlining her sadness for not being ‘in a situation’ to travel with her daughter, Grace.
‘Hands down the holiday of my dreams’: Despite what is happening back home, Tracey appeared loved-up with her new beau as they toured the famed Disneyworld in Florida earlier this week
‘This post is for my not so little girl Grace.. although I’m in a situation that doesn’t allow me to travel with her internationally and I’m sure a lot of divorced families can relate to my situation,’ she wrote.
In July last year, the brunette hit the headlines following her split with ex Patrick, which saw her left ‘stranded’ in Berlin while on holidays.
After she was unable to pay for her own flight home the beauty was forced to find refuge with the Australian embassy.
Taking some time out: The pair have been snapping themselves dining out at restaurants, sipping on cocktails at bars and relaxing by the pool
Luxurious: Tracey captured herself dining out with Nathan at Aifiori in the Langham hotel in New York on June 9
Tracey then suffered a mental breakdown, and she ‘overdosed’ on medication.
In August 2018, she shared details about the incident after taking a short break at a mental health facility.
‘I went into a head spin and I overdosed. I just couldn’t see a way out of the current situation,’ she confessed on Instagram.
‘I’ve been trolled and cyber bullied relentlessly, pretty much all year [since MAFS]. I’m not someone with a history of depression,’ she stated.
She continued: ‘But I started getting help in April because a psychologist said I might have post-traumatic stress disorder because of everything I’d been through.’
Getting there: After a rough 2018, Tracey revealed at the start of the year that she was getting help in April ‘because a psychologist said I might have post-traumatic stress disorder’ after everything she has been through since MAFS