Burgess, 56, who owns his own removalist company in London called Aussie Man&Van came into Macpherson's life recently after he helped her move from Notting Hill, West London, to nearby Ladbroke Grove.

Burgess was found guilty of drug trafficking in the NSW District Court in 1996 and sentenced to four years jail after he attempted to smuggle 2kg of cocaine from the US inside hollowed-out books.




Burgess had lived in Australia since the age of 17 after emigrating from the UK. He left behind a wife and three young children when he was deported to England after serving out his jail term.

His wife Jennifer said at the time of his deportation that he had been a good father.

"He was always a good dad. Unfortunately he lost the plot for a time," she said.

The News of The World reported that before his new girlfriend picked him up, Burgess had been looking at new Jaguars in a showroom in Chelsea.

An onlooker said: "The salesman was an Aussie and they were getting on great.

"Brian was saying how he had been seeing a new girlfriend for a few weeks.

"He added, I've got to go, she's picking me up. Then Elle turns up in her car. I couldn't believe it."

Aussie Man&Van manager John Hess last night said Mr Burgess' conviction was "all in the past".