A notorious Australian conman who once tried to dupe NBA star Matthew Dellavedova has made a bizarre legal move that has left a Melbourne couple stunned.
Convicted swindler Josh Howlett is back in the headlines after hitting a Melbourne couple, who had accused him of avoiding debts, with an intervention order application.
The application, seen by the Daily Mail, details allegations against Melbourne mum Mel Matulin after her photographer partner, Jamie Etherington, was hired by Howlett for a supposed ‘Vogue photo shoot’ in October last year.
The allegations – which Ms Matulin and her partner strenuously deny – include claims Etherington made ‘racist remarks’ and ‘behaved inappropriately to other members of the team’ during the shoot.
Howlett, who claims to be Indigenous, also alleges he received an email from Ms Matulin in which she wrote that the swindler had ‘no right to call myself aborigines’.
‘A private message was then sent to no less than 100 people stating that I was faking my Aboriginal heritage,’ Howlett alleges.
Howlett, who has admitted to multiple prior fraud offences, also alleges Ms Matulin created an Instagram page suggesting he was a ‘career conman’ who was ‘currently on the run from police’.
Howlett also alleges Ms Matulin had ‘other people message me telling me to kill myself’.
Convicted swindler Josh Howlett has resurfaced by serving a Melbourne couple – who accused him of dodging debts – with an intervention order application
Melbourne mum Mel Matulin received an intervention order application after her partner, photographer Jamie Etherington, was hired by Josh Howlett. (Mel Matulin and Jamie Etherington are pictured together)
Howlett tried to involve Aussie NBA star Matthew Dellavedova (left) in a bogus movie deal
‘She has started a narrative that I am going through a process of trying to change my identity as to evade punishment from her made-up crimes,’ Howlett alleges in his application.
‘She has also spread claims that am [sic] currently committing armed robberies specifically targeting musical instruments.’
In his application, Howlett states he had a policy of paying employees 30 days after shoots and says he expressed concerns to Mr Etherington about his ‘behaviour’.
Howlett claims he ‘advised’ Mr Etherington he would be paid once he had made amends for his behaviour.
The intervention order application, initiated on October 7, followed Ms Matulin telling the Daily Mail in January that they had been left out-of-pocket after dealing with Howlett.
The couple said Howlett hired Mr Etherington for a purported Vogue shoot, but he was allegedly never paid – nor were the stylist or the model.
Ms Matulin said she made Facebook posts in several photography pages and groups, warning others to watch out for deals involving Howlett.
The Melbourne mum told the Daily Mail she received dozens of responses from others who had ‘horrific experiences’, including some ‘very vulnerable people’.
Howlett has admitted multiple prior offences of fraud
Ms Matulin is pictured
‘He’s ruined some people’s lives along the way,’ Ms Matulin told the Daily Mail.
‘People need to know who he is. He needs to be stopped – it’s disgusting what he’s done to others and to Ben, that poor boy.
‘He is an incredibly manipulative person who has done horrible things to many people.’
Ms Matulin claims Howlett has no evidence as she prepares to defend the accusations when the matter lands in court on December 7.
Howlett first made headlines for claiming he was making a movie about Cleveland Cavaliers star Matthew Dellavedova’s rise from rural Victoria to NBA fame.
He tried to lure the star by claiming Tinseltown heavyweights including Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte and Liam Hemsworth were keen to be involved.
Howlett claimed Liam Hemsworth was a possibility to play Dellavedova in the movie
But the project fizzled out when Howlett vanished after his conman past was exposed.
Howlett was convicted in 2019 after admitting to obtaining financial advantage by deception and was sentenced to a three-year community correction order.
Melbourne County Court heard Howlett had conned a doctor into investing $150,000 in a film called ‘Better Half’ in 2016, in return for his daughter starring in it.
Filming began in November 2016, but production halted the same month after the funds disappeared, the court was told.
It emerged Howlett had spent the money on personal items, including fines, rent, travel, clothing, food and drinks.
At the same time, Howlett was trying to secure the deal to tell Dellavedova’s story, but the star’s manager, Bruce Kaider, revealed they killed the project due to concerns about Howlett.
‘Josh wasn’t the kind of person we like to do business with,’ Mr Kaider admitted in 2020.
‘We didn’t want anything to do with him. I could tell early he was a snake, we deal with sharks every day in the sports industry so I started calling him out on his bulls***.
‘We started noticing things, behavioural changes, we heard things about him, people started messaging us, he owed money, he owed our partners’ money.’
Howlett allegedly received over $70,000 from Sydney actor Ben Taylor (above) across several years to produce three projects
Mr Taylor said Howlett boasted about being close to Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann
It’s understood Howlett moves between Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast, with multiple warnings about his business conduct appearing on social media networks.
Howlett also allegedly received more than $70,000 from Sydney actor Ben Taylor over several years to produce three projects.
Mr Taylor told Howlett in February 2014 he had an idea for a movie called ‘Discovering Amy’, and handed him $15,000 to help get it into production.
Howlett told Mr Taylor he had Hollywood connections and allegedly claimed he could secure funding for the movie by the end of 2014.
However, Mr Taylor, now 34, says he only ever received an 11-page ‘story treatment’ which Howlett claimed was written by Aunty Donna star Mark Bonanno.
Mr Taylor said Howlett boasted about being close to Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann and TV presenter Livinia Nixon, and claimed he was involved in the Logies.
Howlett has previously directed all communication via his lawyer, who informed the Daily Mail they no longer represent him.
