Tech billionaire accused of assaulting partner, cutting $66k Birkin bag with scissors

A billionaire tech investor accused of assaulting his former partner as well as stealing and damaging expensive gifts he had bought her has had his bail varied to allow him to visit his mother in Sydney.

Perth-based Laurence Emmanuel Escalante, 44, made his fortune through his Virtual Gaming Worlds company which offers virtual slot machines, poker games and online casinos.

Mr Escalante has been on strict bail conditions since he was charged with assaulting his former partner at her home on Australia Day.

The court was told in January that Mr Escalante, who owned the home, allegedly told her to pack up her belongings and get out of the apartment before grabbing her by the hair, forcing her into the bedroom and demanding she return the gifts he had given her.

The court heard he tried to tear apart handbags and when there was a scuffle, Mr Escalante allegedly struck her with a "closed fist".

Expensive gifts allegedly stolen

The prosecutor said Mr Escalante had bought his ex-partner multiple high-value jewellery items and handbags, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, as gifts.

He told the court Mr Escalante allegedly took from her a Rolex watch valued at more than $25,000, Cartier love bracelet valued at more than $30,000, Van Cleef bracelets worth more than $8,000, a Van Cleef necklace valued in excess of $16,000 and Van Cleef earrings worth more than $24,000.

He is also accused of stealing a Bulgari white gold bracelet valued at more than $71,000 and Chanel gold diamond earrings valued at $3,000.

Mr Escalante allegedly used scissors to damage a black leather Hermès Birkin 25 handbag worth $66,000.

A housekeeper told Mr Escalante that the police had been called, and he left the home before they arrived.

Mr Escalante was arrested three days later, with the jewellery and items he had allegedly taken found in the bedroom of his own home, and police also allegedly found ketamine, MDMA, and cocaine during their search.

'Persistent family violence'

He's facing 17 charges in total, including aggravated assault, home burglary, and drug possession, and has not entered any pleas.

Mr Escalante is also facing a charge of "persistent family violence", related to a series of alleged assaults on his former partner in 2025.

He appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a bail variation to enable him to travel to Sydney to see his mother in July.

The 44-year-old, who did not speak to reporters as he left court, is scheduled to appear in court again in August.

Defence lawyer Simon Freitag had previously told the court Mr Escalante's net worth was $4.5 billion.