Illionaire – Hunt for designer on drug charges
Source: The West Australian.
A prominent Perth fashion designer charged with possessing almost $800,000 of drugs has allegedly fled the country and is now the target of an international hunt.
Benjamin Woodcock, the creator of internationally lauded label Illionaire, did not turn up in court yesterday and his lawyer admitted he did not know where Mr Woodcock was.
A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Det-Sgt Jason Blaine said Mr Woodcock had not been seen by police since October 1, despite bail conditions that required him to report to police three times a week.
Police have notified Interpol that they are searching for him.
Mr Woodcock, 30, handed his Australian passport to authorities when he was released on bail but police believe he has escaped overseas.
He was charged with possession of methylamphetamines with intent to sell or supply in August after he was allegedly caught with more than half a kilogram of the drug.
Det-Sgt Blaine said it would be alleged the fashion designer had 520g of drugs hidden in his underwear when detectives pulled him over in his mother’s silver BMW in Maylands on Thursday, August 19.
Police allege the drugs were 30 per cent pure and police said they would have been worth about $780,000 when cut for sale.
Western suburbs detectives had been investigating Mr Woodcock’s activities amid allegations he was dealing drugs in the area.
Mr Woodcock created Illionaire as a youthful, unisex brand in 2006.
He and his partners launched the label at Australian Fashion Week in 2007, participating in the New Generation designer showcase.
The following year they presented their first individual show in Sydney.
Illionaire’s men’s and women’s collections have been sold in boutiques around Australia as well as in Europe, America and Japan.
Mr Woodcock travelled extensively for work but it is understood he had recently moved in with his mother in Perth.
His mother put up the $75,000 surety in August when he was granted bail after his arrest.
But this month she applied to the court to withdraw the surety and Mr Woodcock was ordered to appear to have his bail conditions changed.
He did not appear to address the change in bail and also missed a scheduled appearance in Perth Magistrate’s Court yesterday on the drug-dealing charge.
Prosecuting Sgt Bob Morgan told Magistrate Libby Woods that Mr Woodcock had “decamped the country”.
Magistrate Woods issued a warrant for Mr Woodcock’s arrest.
Outside court, Mr Woodcock’s lawyer Stephen McGrath said he did not know where his client was and was concerned for his safety.
Police are also investigating the possibility a family member was helping him to avoid capture and set up a life outside Australia.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
ha, at least you didnt stock the label, those stockists who did would be pretty red faced right now, good on ya f-t..
October 28th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Crazy news. I feel really sorry for co-founder Kat and anyone else involved with the label. What a mess.
October 28th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
wasn’t he in jail for something to begin with – isn’t that where the label orginated from… or is that just urban myth stuff?
October 28th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Spm: Unsure about that, cannot confirm. Jeremy: Kat Grace left Illionaire two seasons ago and started her own label called ‘Tonight’.
October 29th, 2010 at 12:45 am
Kat Grace walked away from that douche bag years ago. Hopefully they’ll catch that guy.
October 29th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Spm: Yes, can now confirm he has previous 2 years jail time.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Jeremy, I would not be sorry for Kat. She was well aware that her paycheques from Ben was from the suffering junkies that he sold meth too. It is common knowledge in Perth.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:12 pm
All news to me, thanks for the clarification on Kats happenings. Keep us posted FT
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 am
it is common knowledge that kat walked away a year ago actually!!… and the crap he put her through on every level is unforgivable.. she worked so hard in bali without ben to make that company legitimate and her clothes were incredible. give her a break!. are you kidding me turner?.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 am
i agree with sarah, she just made him look good! they were all her designs and she walked away with nothing and now she is being dragged into this mess. He is a METH dealer guys doesn’t get any worse.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Anyway, she’ll be onto better things. Screw that guy. HE never designed a thing. Just used the label to pick up chicks.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
its disgusting that this post has received so many comments when f-t put out so many top quality exclusive fashion forward blogs, seriously fuck illionaire’s bali made crap, i cant believe people even bought it
November 3rd, 2010 at 5:45 am
Every ILLIONAIRE piece of clothing i have ever bought has never fallen apart. In fact i can always guarantee compliments when i wear anything made by ILLIONAIRE.. the fits are incredible.
November 3rd, 2010 at 6:05 pm
bah, just because something doesn’t fall apart doesn’t mean it made terribly, impoverish bali made crap will always be crap no matter what…maybe give a better designer a try for a while and your life will change for the better.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Well, i have a couple of pieces from illionaires 08aw season and i’ll never throw them out, they’re decent quality even considering that i’m doing fashion school (just pointing out the quality aspect.. especially being into obscur,luc,poell,RO with immaculate detail and quality..). Money isn’t everything. I mix expensive with non-expensive and i think this is the best way to go personally.
November 4th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I Hope that he suffers the same missery as the junkies and their families nothing could be worse. He is a METH DEALER, Kat knew and didn’t care either, hope they catch him. He has never designed anything! Ripped off his friends for a free ride to fake fame, and was only out for himself others paid for his sick parties.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
as if ‘now now’, id love to see your aw08 fluro coloured illionaire denim and t’s mixed in with a fw10 obscur distressed felt wool coat, give me a break mate.
November 5th, 2010 at 12:29 am
sorry mate if you knew the a/w 08 collection then i highly doubt you’de see any flouro. its actually a leather sleeved crew neck jumper and inside out jumper cotton front and back to distress/age overtime. (i don’t mix it with those labels anyhow, that would be odd). dont underestimate/judge
November 5th, 2010 at 8:43 am
I have known Ben for 10 years, and while Kat might have known that he was up to no good, she surely never knew exactly what he was up to selling meth. None of us did. Ben is one of the sneakiest and most manipulative people I have ever met. He has an amazing power of controlling people, getting them to do what they wants for his own purposes. In Kat’s case, he used her to make him money and to create a label that he could take credit for so that he could pick up model chicks. This shouldn’t be news to anyone. Same reason people buy nightclubs….not so they can dance for free. Not to mention, it was a great front for his dubious activities. Anyway, Kat is a talented chick, and she will surely be fine on her own, without a meth dealing bogun breathing down her back. I can only imagine his negative energy hindered her creativity anyway.