Wayne Cooper Scores Legal Victory as Assault Charge is Dropped, but Further Court Battle Looms

SYDNEY, May 2025 — Fashion designer Wayne Cooper has scored a major legal win after an assault charge involving his wife, Elizabeth Adams, was officially dropped.

The 61-year-old was due to appear in Waverley Local Court this month over allegations he assaulted Adams during a heated argument involving a wine bottle at a Bondi apartment last December. However, that charge was withdrawn in late March, along with the related Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) application.

Despite this development, Cooper is still facing a separate legal battle in Byron Bay, where he is accused of common assault and contravening an AVO in a different incident. He has pleaded not guilty, and that case is set to be heard in August.

A Turbulent Marriage

Cooper and Adams married in December 2023, only nine months after meeting. Their relationship has drawn public scrutiny since the beginning, particularly due to lingering tensions surrounding Cooper’s ex-wife, Sarah Marsh.

In August 2023, Adams revealed to Daily Mail Australia that Marsh’s presence was straining her marriage. “Like Princess Diana said, ‘There’s three of us in this marriage,’” Adams remarked, referring to the emotional toll of Cooper’s past.

The couple’s domestic issues became public when police initially sought an AVO — not against Cooper — but to protect him from Adams. That order was granted in August. Ironically, by December, Adams herself claimed that Cooper had assaulted her during a dispute in Bondi.

A Pattern of Court Cases

Cooper has a long history of legal troubles involving former partner Sarah Marsh. In May 2022, he was arrested at the couple’s luxury Myocum estate and charged with two counts of domestic violence-related assault. Those charges were later dismissed in 2023, along with an AVO filed by Marsh.

In 2008, he was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to assaulting Marsh shortly after her cancer surgery. More serious charges, including assault causing bodily harm and intimidation, were dropped.

Current Status and Background

Cooper is currently out on bail under strict conditions. He is not allowed within 200km of Byron Bay, must reside in inner Sydney, and report regularly to Kings Cross police.

Despite the legal controversies, Cooper — a UK-born designer who launched the labels BRAVE, WAYNE COOPER, and WAYNE — remains a prominent name in Australian fashion. His shows have featured top international models like Linda Evangelista and Sarah O’Hare (Murdoch), and he was a regular on Australia’s Next Top Model.

What’s Next?

While Cooper may have avoided one legal hurdle with the Bondi charge being dropped, the fashion mogul is not in the clear yet. His August court appearance in Byron Bay will determine whether further charges related to common assault and breach of AVO will proceed.