AVO hearing for paparazzo Liam Mendes is adjourned after Biggest Loser's Michelle Bridges complained he was following her around a Woolworths supermarket
A part-time paparazzo involved in an alleged confrontation with Biggest Loser star Michelle Bridges arrived in court to face an AVO hearing on Wednesday.
Flanked by members of his legal team, Liam Mendes, 20, arrived in a suit and tie at Sydney's Downing Centre court after he was accused of following the 45-year-old around a Woolworths store.
The celebrity fitness instructor filed for an apprehended violence order against Mendes in April, complaining she had been harassed at a supermarket in Potts Point, Sydney, when she was with her five-month-old son, Axel, and partner Steve 'Commando' Willis.
The hearing was adjourned and will re-open on 8 June after Mendes's lawyer Chris Murphy insisted his client's behaviour was 'not illegal' and it was 'bad luck' if celebrities don't like being photographed.
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Court day: Liam Mendes arrives in a suit and tie at Sydney's Downing Centre court on Wednesday morning after he was accused of following Biggest Loser star Michelle Bridges around a Woolworths supermarket
Angry: The 45-year-old star was seen on camera confronting a man believed to be a photographer filming her in a Woolworths supermarket in Potts Point
Mr Murphy told news.com.au after the hearing: 'It’s based on a mistake. The incident occurred at the Woolworths at Kings Cross. Ms Bridges has been filmed many times — in Kings Cross, and at Woolworths, and has put many photos of herself on Facebook I believe.'
'He never broke any law, it’s almost restraint of trade to try and stop him taking photos the way you do.
'If you [celebrities] don’t like the photos, that’s bad luck.'
Footage of the incident taken on April 22 shows the TV star demanding that the camera is turned off before she appears to reach out and block the lens with her hand.
'You're breaking the law by taking photographs of people in a shop,' she can be heard saying in the footage from within the store.
'You can cross your arms, you can get upset, but you're actually breaking the law.
'And you're breaking the law by filming me in a shop.'
Ready to be heard: Mendes (centre) and his legal team arrive for the morning hearing
Fighting his corner: The part-time photographer will state his claim before a magistrate with help from his legal team
Not happy: In the footage Michelle can be seen demanding that filming is stopped before she appeared to reach out to block the camera
The man behind the camera is alleged to have initially refused to stop filming and can be heard saying he had not been asked to leave the store.
Wearing a black tracksuit top and with her dark hair tied back, Michelle is heard becoming increasingly frustrated at the man filming her and at one point is seen standing hand on hip.
Police were eventually called and issued a 20-year-old man with a move-on direction to which he complied.
New mother: The fitness fanatic is said to have been in the store with her son Axel at the time
A spokesman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia at the time that witnesses tried to intervene after the couple were 'filmed and intimidated' by the photographer.
A Current Affair reported that days before the incident, the photographer had followed Michelle and her partner Steve to dinner.
Mendes told the programme he was 'dumbfounded' at Michelle's reaction.
TV pair: Michelle was said to be with her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis at thew time of the incident in April
'There was absolutely nothing different on these two occasions than the other 365 days a year she is photographed, I am dumbfounded,' Mendes said.
Mendes denies any responsibly.
It's not the first time the celebrity couple have confronted the paparazzi, sparking renewed public interest in the pair since they went public with their relationship in 2013.
In 2015, Steve was caught delivering an expletive-ridden tirade toward a photographer, threatening to 'knock [his] f***ing head off'.
TV trainers: It is not the first time the celebrity couple have confronted the paparazzi, sparking renewed public interest in the pair since they went public with their relationship in 2013
'Hey mate, you are a f***ing dick, you had to have the f***ing police called on you and you f***ing had your a*** tackled to the ground by the security,' he was filmed yelling.
A week prior, The Daily Telegraph reported the former special forces infantryman had called the police when photographers had refused to stop taking pictures of him.
'The police were called to Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday after a paparazzo continued to take photos of Steve and his daughter,' confirmed his management to the newspaper at the time.
'Steve assisted the police with their inquiries and left.'
Famous: Michelle is one of the best known faces in the Australian fitness industry
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