The 56-year-old motivational speaker will fight allegations that he attacked his wife, Andrea, on New Year’s Eve

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A motivational speaker and former Hillsong preacher, Pasquale “Pat” Mesiti, will fight allegations he attacked his wife on New Year’s Eve.

The 56-year-old, who describes himself on his website as an “income acceleration coach” whose goal is to help create 10,000 millionaires, did not appear in Parramatta local court on Tuesday when the case came before a magistrate for the first time.

Mesiti has been charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, both of which were allegedly committed against his wife, Andrea, in the north-western Sydney suburb of Glenhaven between 10pm on 30 December and 10.35pm on 31 December.

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He has entered a plea of not guilty on both counts.

Mesiti is due back in court next month, but in the meantime must comply with an interim protection order that prevents him from approaching Andrea Mesiti within 12 hours of consuming alcohol or illicit drugs.

The former evangelical preacher, who lives in Kellyville Ridge in Sydney’s affluent Hills district, has written a number of self-help books, including Staying Together Without Falling Apart, billed as a definitive guide to helping men and women “thrive together in a modern day relationship”.