MasterChef Australia star reveals surprise career news after being cleared of sex charges
Former MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann has announced a surprise career move three years after he was cleared of sex trafficking charges.
The 39-year-old bodybuilder and chef announced that he will be opening a new restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, called Ben’s Italian.
“EXCITING NEWS…my new restaurant is coming soon!” Ungermann wrote about this on Instagram on Thursday.
“Fun fact about me: I cook really great Italian food,” he added.
Ungermann then said he would be opening a pop-up restaurant, opening Friday.
Former MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann has announced a surprise career move three years after he was cleared of sex trafficking charges.
In 2021, Ungermann escaped criminal punishment for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room.
Instead, the chef was placed on a diversion program, allowing him to avoid a conviction for the attack in Docklands in February 2020.
Three sexual assault charges brought against Ungermann in relation to the same incident were dropped at Melbourne Magistrates Court.
With the consent of prosecutors and the girl, they were reduced to one common law assault charge.
Ungermann admitted to physically grabbing the girl and pulling her towards him for several seconds in the hotel room.
At the time, he was traveling to Melbourne to film the Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef: Back to Win.
The 39-year-old bodybuilder and chef has revealed that he will be opening a new restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa called Ben’s Italian.
He and the girl had dinner, drank sake and talked about Ungermann’s breakup before the attack.
Ungermann said he was going to be “shaken” before returning to the hotel room, asking the girl for a hug and pulling her onto his chest.
His lawyer, Abby Rudenburg, said Ungermann accepted responsibility for what happened.
“It was a one-time, short touch,” the lawyer also said, adding that it was “out of character.”
Ungermann agreed to write a letter of apology, make a $1,000 donation to charity and undergo psychiatric treatment as part of the diversion.
The girl wanted to read a statement to the court about the consequences of the attack.
In 2021, Ungermann escaped criminal punishment for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room.
Magistrate Judge Mia Stylianou did not allow it, saying the wording did not match the charge Ungermann eventually admitted.
“I read it and I’m saddened by it,” the judge also said of his statement.
Ms Stylianou highlighted the stress the victim was going through, especially as she prepared to testify against Ungermann before the case was concluded.
Ms Roodenburg said the “public figure” had lost his reputation and sponsorship gained from his first appearance on MasterChef in 2017, when he came second.
“He understands that this process is stressful for everyone,” the lawyer added.
“But of course, for Mr. Ungerman, the way these charges were brought forward and the media attention resulted in significant extrajudicial punishment.”
Instead, the chef was placed on a diversion program, allowing him to avoid a conviction for the attack in Docklands in February 2020.
Ms. Rudenburg also said a criminal conviction would make it difficult for Ungermann to continue to advance and work abroad.
He was also represented by Western Australian lawyer and fellow 2017 MasterChef contestant Benjamin Bullock.
Outside court, Bullock said: “We welcome Benny’s opportunity to clear his name. “It’s really just about him moving forward and moving on with his life.”
The magistrate accepted that Ungermann had suffered public censure due to media coverage of his case.