Former MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann has announced a surprising career move, three years after being cleared of sex charges.
The 39-year-old bodybuilder and executive chef revealed he will be opening a new restaurant in Capetown, South Africa, called Ben’s Italian.
‘EXCITING NEWS… my new restaurant is coming!’ Ungermann wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
‘A fun fact about me, I make really great Italian food,’ he added.
Ungermann then revealed he’ll be opening a pop up restaurant, which will be launching on Friday.
Former MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann announced a surprising career move, three years after being cleared of sex charges
Ungermann was spared a criminal conviction in 2021 for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room.
The chef was instead placed on a diversion program, allowing him to avoid a criminal record, for the Docklands assault in February 2020.
Three sexual assault charges against Ungermann over the same incident were struck out in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
They were replaced with one charge of common law assault, with the consent of prosecutors and the girl.
Ungermann admitted to physically grabbing the girl and pulling her towards him in his hotel room for a few seconds.
At the time, he had travelled to Melbourne for filming for the Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef: Back to Win.
The 39-year-old bodybuilder and executive chef revealed he will be opening a new restaurant in Capetown, South Africa, called Ben’s Italian
He and the girl had dinner, drunk sake and spoke about Ungermann’s relationship breakdown before the assault.
Ungermann said he was going to get ‘s**tfaced’ before returning to the hotel room, asking the girl for a hug and pulling her onto his chest.
His barrister, Abbie Roodenburg, said Ungermann took responsibility for what happened.
‘This was a one-off brief touch,’ the barrister also said, adding that it was ‘out of character’.
Ungermann agreed to write an letter of apology, make a $1,000 donation to charity and undergo mental health treatment as part of the diversion.
The girl wanted to read a statement about the effects of the assault to the court.
Ungermann was spared a criminal conviction in 2021 for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room
Magistrate Mia Stylianou did not allow it, saying the wording was inconsistent with the charge Ungermann ultimately admitted to.
‘I’ve read that and I’m saddened by it,’ the magistrate also said of the statement.
Ms Stylianou emphasised the stress the victim had gone through, particularly as she had prepared to give evidence against Ungermann before the case resolved.
Ms Roodenburg said the ‘public personality’ lost his reputation and sponsorships gained through his first appearance on MasterChef in 2017, when he was runner-up.
‘He understands that this process is stressful for everybody,’ the barrister added.
‘But certainly for Mr Ungermann, the way in which these charges have come about and the media attention has caused significant extra-curial punishment.’
The chef was instead placed on a diversion program, allowing him to avoid a criminal record, for the Docklands assault in February 2020
Ms Roodenburg also said a criminal conviction would have made it hard for Ungermann to move forward and pursue work overseas.
He was also represented by Western Australian-based solicitor and fellow 2017 MasterChef contestant Benjamin Bullock.
Outside court, Mr Bullock said: ‘We welcome the opportunity for Benny to clear his name. It’s really just about him going forward now and moving on with his life.’
The magistrate acknowledged Ungermann had endured public opprobrium through media coverage of his case.
