Ben Alcott, 52, the uncle of former Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, has been granted bail after being charged with two counts of recording or distributing an intimate image without consent and one count of knowingly contravening an apprehended violence order (AVO).
Alcott, an events and production manager, was charged in May and had been in custody since then. He appeared in Burwood Local Court on Tuesday, where he was granted bail. His lawyer argued that Alcott had a limited criminal history and strong community ties, suggesting he posed no risk to the community or the alleged victim. The court heard that Alcott turned himself in to police and provided full access to his phone.
Prosecutors stated that police are in possession of a video in which the complainant clearly did not know she was being recorded, arguing the alleged offending was of mid-range seriousness. Alcott's defense countered that a remark heard in the video, where Alcott says, "No, I'm just using it for a light," was sarcastic. Alcott maintained in an affidavit that the woman knew she was being recorded and did not object.
In addition to the recording charge, Alcott faces a count of contravening an AVO for the third time within 28 days. The court was told there had been "some agreed contact" between Alcott and the woman, but whether coercion was involved is a pending issue. Alcott had previously been convicted and sentenced to a six-month community corrections order for a prior AVO contravention.
Alcott is also known for his work in the events industry, having founded Damn Good Productions and worked with clients such as 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Jamie Oliver, and Rick Stein. He also directed the 2020 Amazon Prime eco-tourism documentary series "Leave No Trace." Sources indicate he had a close personal and professional relationship with his nephew, Dylan Alcott, and worked on his Ability Fest concert as recently as 2023.
During his bail hearing, Alcott's lawyer argued that his client needed to be at liberty to manage his business, as his time in custody had resulted in outstanding debts and the fear of losing net worth. Judge Jennifer Price acknowledged that the alleged offending was serious but accepted that Alcott's time on remand would likely exceed any potential custodial sentence by the time the matter is heard.
Alcott was granted bail on the conditions that he surrender his passport, report weekly to Chatswood Police Station, and allow police access to his mobile phone upon request. The case is scheduled to return to Burwood Local Court for a hearing on April 19, 2027.