Heiress to the Bushells tea fortune hits DJ lover with an apprehended violence order – as he’s rushed to hospital after disappearing with their two children
- Sydney R&B figure Dennis Dowlut hit with AVO on behalf of a Bushells tea heiress
- Dowlut allegedly vanished from the couple’s Darling Point, Sydney home
- He was accompanied by their two children but was later stopped by police
- No charges have been laid but Dowlut has been hit with a restraining order
Police have taken out a restraining order against an ARIA-nominated R&B artist on behalf of his lover, the heiress of the Bushells tea fortune, after he allegedly disappeared with their children.
Sydney music industry figure Dennis Dowlut – best known as one half of early 2000s R&B outfit Disco Montego – was hit with an apprehended violence order during the Easter long weekend.
The order was made on behalf of Alisha Oxley, the mother of his two children and a descendant of the legendary tea merchant Philip Bushell.
Police have alleged that Dowlut disappeared from a home in Darling Point with the couple’s two children about 2.30am last Thursday.
Police have taken out an apprehended violence order on behalf of Alisha Oxley (left), an heir to the Bushells Tea fortune, against her lover, Sydney musician Dennis Dowlut
Dowlut (at back in left photo, with his late brother Darren), was one half of the dance and R&B outfit Disco Montego, which remixed tracks by Elton John and Mariah Carey. More recently, Dowlut (right) has played for the band Electric Empire, touring through Europe and performing at the Glastonbury music festival
Police issued an amber alert and Dowlut was later spotted by a member of the public with the kids near Panania train station, in the city’s south.
Dowlut – who has played the UK music festival Glastonbury and made remixes for Mariah Carey – was hospitalised and the children were returned home safely.
No charges have been laid against Dowlut however deputy chief magistrate Jane Mottley continued an apprehended violence order made against him on Wednesday.
The order bans Dowlut from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harrassing or intimidating Ms Oxley and their children.
It also puts him on notice not to destroy or damage their property or harm any animal in their possession.
He is also ordered not to go within 500m of their home or approach various locations in Double Bay, Bellevue Hill and Darling Point.
The Oxley family’s Gothic Revival harbourfront mansion, Carthona, has been in the family for three generations
Neither Dowlut or Ms Oxley were present at the Downing Centre Court complex with the court hearing he was still at hospital in Liverpool.
Dowlut’s biggest musical hit with Disco Montego was Beautiful, featuring Bardot singer Katie Underwood. It hit number 9 on the ARIA charts in 2002.
Dubbed an Australian R&B pioneer, recently he has been involved in outfits Electric Empire and Deutsch Duke.
Ms Oxley’s family have a long association with the Darling Point area, one of the city’s most affluent.
The clan’s Gothic Revival-style mansion, Carthona, has been in the family for three generations.
Dowlut’s case returns to court on April 21.
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