Matthew Ridge aka Meth-You

Don Murray, self-proclaimed Champion Astrologer and race tipster has been busy spreading rumours. In mid-2007 he penned the nickname ‘Meth-You’ for Matthew Ridge. Talking about Keita Nobilo's drug charges, he says

Latest is an heiress to millions who was sprung with some P and utensils.

Strange how she's eventually gonna inherit millions from the alcohol industry but makes P her drug of choice.

The downhill slide began when her boyfriend, known as "Meth You" in some circles, ditched her for another.

Ms Heiress retaliated with a vengeance and absolutely trashed Meth You's waterfront apartment....

Don isn’t the first to suggest that Matthew loves everyone’s favourite letter of the alphabet, P. A commenter on Throng says,

Mathew is the biggest P smoker in New Zealand, everyone in the inner circles knows it, I'm surprised the press hasn't caught on yet. It is pretty obvious by his actions as well. And the photos of him on the Treasure Island web site.

This isn't the first time we've heard these claims. This leads us to wonder… what is going on in Matthew aka Meth-You’s palatial Herne Bay home. In 2006, housemate Brent Todd pleaded guilty to procuring cocaine when the ‘celebrity drug ring’ bust came down. And sweet young Carly Binding works in an industry notorious for drug use. Is the bond between them love, or love of a shared past-time?

And who is the couple? Don Murray is suggesting that Matthew and his housemate Brent Todd (or Bent according to Don Murray) are an item.

It wouldn't be surprising if someone one day produces an OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE-type series on the lives of Matthew Ridge and his housemate/employee Brent Todd.

Maybe a romantic saga of how the two met while playing with each other on the rugby league field and some 15 years later ended up playing with each other far away from the park?

Hmmmm. Seems unlikely, although we have noticed that Meth-You is a big fan of man love. Murray also suggests that

Ridgie's had enough reversals with women to make a long-running soap opera named " Copulation Street " and he must wonder at times if he'd do better off with a husband.

He then goes on to say that Matthew and Brent are astrologically compatible

Ridgie and Toddy ? Virgo Monkey and Sagittarius Dragon ? Yessssssssss !!!!!!!!

Considering that one of Ridgie's longer liaisons, Nicky Watson (1976) is a Sagittarian Dragon like Toddy....

Maybe Ridgie and Toddy will become an item, then get divorced in August-September ?

Huh. Sounds pretty crazy but we'll watch with interest. Don Murray is the man that predicted the All Blacks wouldn't win the 2007 Rugby World Cup so he has a small iota of credibility. Mind you, Miss Prozac predicted that sans crystal ball or astrology chart.

Don also predicts that in 2008 Matthew Ridge will experience

Three difficult attacks from Uranus create massive chaos in the love life and business.

Don Murray’s website isn’t easy to read, with bright type on a black background, and not much in the way of navigation, but if you scroll down the "news" page you will find some interesting snippets of gossip. Whether they are true is up for debate. Murray boasts that he has previously been sued for defamation, but claims the information was correct. He has posted some gossip in advance of the papers, but whether it is all true or only 50-80% accurate, we’ll leave up to you.


Photos: TVNZ

Brent Todd’s Luxury Home Detention

Ex Rugby League star and television personality Brent Todd has been sentenced to 12 months home detention at mate Matthew Ridge’s luxurious Herne Bay residence for his part in defrauding rugby and touch clubs out of about $1 million. The poor lad will be forced to live in five star luxury, complete with swimming pool, so long as he wears his latest accessory, an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Although earlier reports suggested that Toddy could be locked away for up to five years for his part in the pokies fraud, the judge gave him credit for making an early guilty plea, agreeing to testify against his five co-accused when they go to trial next year, and making reparation of some of the stolen money. Amounts differ with one paper reporting that Toddy returned about $611,000 and another saying the amount was $300,000. Toddy will also have to do 190 hours of community service as part of his sentence.

Toddy is now working washing cars at Matthew Ridge’s Car-fe business and as a bouncer at Leo Molloy’s nightclub after going into bankruptcy in early 2006. He is permitted to leave Matthew’s home for work purposes, and then it’s back to the arduous life of luxury. At his sentencing Toddy was supported by good mates Matthew Ridge (who calls him numb nuts), April Ieremia and Julie Christie. Julie’s brother is nightclub owner Leo Molloy.

Toddy has also sold the “exclusive” story of his greed and shame, to Woman’s Day, where he told them he doesn’t expect sympathy. Darn right. He won’t be getting any… Ex wife Wendy Botha-Todd is still living in Australia, and Toddy reckons the hardest part of his sentence will be being away from his kids. He also regrets that he didn’t spend time with them when he had the chance, preferring to spend his time working on his businesses and jetting between New Zealand and Australia.

Herald on Sunday have been checking up on Toddy and report that he’s showing no signs of duress:

On day one of his 12-month sentence of home detention, Todd - dressed in a summer ensemble of singlet, shorts and electronic anklet - was seen lapping up the sun and lifting weights in the front yard of Matthew Ridge's Herne Bay home.

Brent Todd's Pokie Scam

Today's NZ Herald has details of Brent Todd's fraudulent scheme to divert funds intended for rugby and touch leagues.

How the scam worked:
Together with business partner Stanley Wijeyaratne the pair raised fake invoices for speaking engagements, consultancy, training and other services siphoning off approximately half of the funds intended for North Harbour Rugby Union, Team Harbour and Touch New Zealand. The pair also raised invoices for personal travel and construction expenses and billed them to the projects.

How much money was stolen?
The pair stole about $2 million.

A Crown depositions statement alleges that of $1.9 million granted to North Harbour rugby through pubs operated by Todd and Wijeyaratne, about $1 million was returned to the pair through the fake invoices.

Of the $2.24 million awarded to Touch NZ from August 2002 to February 2004, about $1 million was dishonestly reclaimed.

Brent Todd has plead guilty and faces up to 5 years in jail for his crimes.

The SFO alleges the pair took the money with the full knowledge and co-operation of the North Harbour chief executive at the time, former All Black Doug Rollerson, and Touch NZ officials Geoffrey Thompson and Alistair Arnott. Together with former Kiwis captain Hugh McGahan and an unnamed women, they will be facing fraud charges in a hearing scheduled for February 2008.

Related Stories:
Brent Todd Admits Fraud

Photos: TVNZ

Brent Todd Admits Fraud

Former League player and Celebrity Treasure Island contestant, Brent Todd has admitted to four fraud charges, relating to funds intended for amateur rugby. The money was collected from pokie machines for North Harbour Rugby Union, Team Harbour and Touch New Zealand.

Todd was one of seven people charged with fraud, including former All Black Doug Rollerson and former Kiwi Hugh McGahan. Click here to find out how the scam worked.

This has been a bad couple of years for Brent Todd. He was declared bankrupt in February last year and in September 2006 admitted procuring cocaine as part of the so-called celebrity drug ring. He was fined $500 plus costs of $130.

Todd had previously vowed to fight the charges but has clearly had a change of heart. He will be sentenced next month.


Photos: TVNZ