Danny Coyne: Ex-boss of collapsed New Sensation Homes and retreat ‘guru’ appears in Perth Magistrates Court

A rogue builder who tried reinvent himself as a wellness guru still has criminal charges hanging over him as he attempts to wangle a deal with prosecutors. Danny Coyne hit headlines in 2022 when New Sensation Homes went into liquidation, owing unsecured creditors $6.4 million. The 35-year-old faces 31 counts of breach of protective bail conditions, which allegedly happened in Dunsborough on an almost daily basis between April 7 and May 29. A related charge of common assault in circumstances of aggravation or racial aggravation was dropped in June, with the police prosecutor saying the female complainant didn’t want to testify “and cannot be persuaded otherwise”. However, “no molestation” conditions — that Mr Coyne not approach, contact or act in an intimidating, offensive or emotionally abusive manner towards the woman — were imposed. His barrister Sharleena Ramdhas has since then been trying to negotiate deal over the remaining 31 charges, and the Perth Magistrates Court was told on Thursday that talks continued. Mr Coyne is yet to enter pleas. “I appreciate that it is a fairly long time,” Ms Ramdhas told Magistrate Benjamin Tyers as he sought a further adjournment. The magistrate asked: “You’ve made a proposal, I’m guessing that’s been refused?” “Not entirely,” the barrister replied. Mr Tyres said he would list the matter for pleas on September 26 and sent it “back to Busselton unless otherwise resolved”. Mr Coyne is no longer featured on the “meet the team” page of Six Seasons Recovery, a $15,000-a-week “private holistic rehab and mental health retreat” near Margaret River, having previously been listed as the program manager “Danny C”. But he picked up its 1800 line on Thursday. “I’ve got nothing to say,” Mr Coyne told The West Australian, after covering his head with a jacket outside court and running to avoid questions. His now taken down his bio in which he claimed he held a psychology degree and had been rehabilitated from his own addictions. Warning signs that New Sensations was about to go belly-up were literally written on the company’s half-built homes. “Coyne pay your bills” and “Coyne owes money” were spray-painted on one Bennett Springs house, seemingly by sub-contractors who downed tools after not being paid for their services.