Kate Ritchie’s 25-year-old rumoured new beau John Bell’s brush with the law is revealed

Kate Ritchie’s ‘mystery man’ John Bell’s, 25, brush with the law is revealed… days after they were spotted holding hands in Byron Bay

Last week photos emerged of actress Kate Ritchie holding hands with rumoured new beau, John Bell.

And while little is known about John, resurfaced court records show that the cyber security businessman, 25, has had minor brushes with the law.

Court extracts reveal John was separately charged with careless driving and possession of cannabis in March 2015, but was not convicted for either.   

Revealed: Kate Ritchie's 25-year-old rumoured new beau John Bell's brush with the law in the past has been exposed. Pictured: John Bell

Revealed: Kate Ritchie’s 25-year-old rumoured new beau John Bell’s brush with the law in the past has been revealed… days after they were spotted holding hands in Byron Bay. Pictured: Kate (left) and John (right)

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Bell has been described as a ‘messed up teenager from little old Portland [Victoria]’ in an Instagram post by a friend last year. 

The Home and Away star has been keeping low-key since splitting from her husband, Stuart Webb, after 10 years of marriage. 

It comes as the notoriously private star sent tongues wagging about the identity of her mystery man after New Idea published photos of them on holiday together. 

What would Kate think? Newly resurfaced court records show that John has had minor brushes with the law including careless driving and possession of cannabis - dating back to 2015

What would Kate think? Newly resurfaced court records show that John has had minor brushes with the law including careless driving and possession of cannabis – dating back to 2015

John has several eye-catching tattoos, including the words ‘Italian Pride’ on his forearm. 

John started security solutions business VIREOSS in September 2019. He runs the company from the small town of Seymour, an hour and a half from Melbourne.

He made all his social media accounts private after New Idea published the photos of him holding hands with Kate.

Inked: John, who is said to be a few years younger than mother-of-one Kate, has several eye-catching tattoos, including the words 'Italian Pride' on his forearm

Inked: John, who is said to be a few years younger than mother-of-one Kate, has several eye-catching tattoos, including the words ‘Italian Pride’ on his forearm

But from what is publicly available, he seems to have a passion for travel, having visited Paris among other destinations.

He is also a fan of horse racing, with his liked pages including Racing Victoria, Flemington Racecourse, and Country Racing Victoria.

Kate and John reportedly stayed at an Airbnb and spent most of their time on holiday relaxing by their private mineral salt pool and visiting Byron Bay’s top restaurants. 

Traveller: John made all his social media accounts private after New Idea published the photos of him holding hands with Kate. But from what is publicly available, he seems to have a passion for travel, having visited Paris among other destinations

Traveller: John made all his social media accounts private after New Idea published the photos of him holding hands with Kate. But from what is publicly available, he seems to have a passion for travel, having visited Paris among other destinations

The sighting comes after Kate parted ways with her husband, retired rugby league player Stuart Webb, after a decade of marriage.

While it’s unclear when exactly Kate and Stuart split, she hasn’t worn her wedding ring in a year and moved out of their marital home in Sydney’s Randwick in late 2019.

Kate moved out after police took out an interim AVO on her behalf against the former NRL star following an incident at the property.

Parting ways: While it's unclear when exactly Kate split from her husband, retired NRL star Stuart Webb (left), she hasn't worn her wedding ring in a year and moved out of their marital home in Sydney's Randwick in late 2019. Pictured on September 15, 2011, in Sydney

Parting ways: While it’s unclear when exactly Kate split from her husband, retired NRL star Stuart Webb (left), she hasn’t worn her wedding ring in a year and moved out of their marital home in Sydney’s Randwick in late 2019. Pictured on September 15, 2011, in Sydney

In December 2019, Stuart’s five-time drink driving history was revealed in a police fact sheet as he faced court for blowing 0.083 when he was pulled over by highway patrolmen in the city’s east in March of that year.

The former couple were last spotted together in February 2020, when they celebrated their six-year-old daughter Mae’s first day of school.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Kate and John for comment. 

Co-parents: The exes were last spotted together in February 2020, when they celebrated their six-year-old daughter Mae's first day of school. Pictured on January 11, 2019, in Sydney

Co-parents: The exes were last spotted together in February 2020, when they celebrated their six-year-old daughter Mae’s first day of school. Pictured on January 11, 2019, in Sydney