Matthew Newton Cleared Of All Charges

14 April 2011

Charges against Matthew Newton have been dropped, after he was accused of breaching a court order by contacting his former fiancee Rachael Taylor.

Rachael was granted an apprehended violence order (AVO) against Matthew last year, after alleging that he had assaulted her during a holiday in Europe. They subsequently broke up.

Matthew was arrested in Sydney in February after allegedly contacting Racahel by phone, faced two charges of breaching the AVO, which could have landed him two years in jail.

Matthew has been battling a mental illness and undergoing treatment, and his lawyers applied for the charges to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act. His condition is said to include panic attacks, bipolar disorder and bouts of manic depression.

The case was heard at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, and magistrate Antony Townsden allowed the application after hearing Matthew was being treated with "a regime of seriously mind-affecting drugs".

The charges will not be held against him as long as he continues his treatment for at least six months.