Peter Karvelis, 58, pleads guilty to stalking Geelong woman at waterfront, supermarket
A Melbourne man who drove from his metropolitan home to the Geelong waterfront to stalk a woman, also following her as she completed supermarket shopping, has learned his fate in court.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Melbourne man who drove from his metropolitan home to the Geelong waterfront to stalk a woman also followed her at a Geelong West supermarket, a court has heard.
Peter Karvelis, 58, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday to stalking offences involving a former partner.
The court heard he followed his 57-year-old victim on a number of occasions after their relationship broke down due to his alleged “controlling” behaviour, including financial control.
On one occasion, on September 15, the victim was sitting in her car at the Geelong waterfront preparing to go for a walk when Karvelis suddenly appeared at her window and frightened her.
The incident prompted the victim to install CCTV cameras at her home, the court heard.
On September 22, she then received a notification on her phone and was alerted that the accused was standing at the front door.
He dropped flowers and left.
On September 29, Karvelis then confronted the woman in the aisle of a Geelong West supermarket, telling her he “was not stalking her” and “he loved her”.
She then witnessed him “trying to find her” in the carpark, the court heard.
On the same day, he allegedly sent her a barrage of text messages despite being told to stop.
The victim attended Ringwood police station on October 2 and reported the stalking, and provided evidence.
Karvelis was arrested later that day.
The court heard, through his defence counsel, the former financial adviser, who has a “holiday home” in Geelong West and lives between there and Melbourne, accepted he was now aware he behaviour was serious.
The man’s lawyer told the court there was “no excuse for stalking”, but argued there was “contextualised circumstances” surrounding the offending, in which he would plead guilty.
“My client was in a position where he mistakenly tried to reconcile a relationship in the same way he has done in the past,” she said.
The court heard in his mind “it was courting” and an attempt at “rekindling love”.
“A report to police will give you a good wakeup call as to what stalking is in 2025,” the lawyer said.
She said a stalking conviction “would be deadly” to his career.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said the charges were serious.
He gave a sentence indication of an adjourned undertaking without conviction for 12 months, saying Karvelis would be ordered to pay $1000 into the court fund.
“We can all learn even if we are 58 years of age … so we don’t come back here again,” he said.
He must complete a men’s behavioural change program by June 29, 2026.
More Coverage
Originally published as Peter Karvelis, 58, pleads guilty to stalking Geelong woman at waterfront, supermarket
Alleyway chases, drugs, knives: A sniffer dog’s night out in Geelong
A sniffer dog sparked a foot chase through Geelong’s back alleys as the Addy joined the men and women in blue on a nightlife blitz that uncovered knives and drugs.
Family tragedy driving Danger’s call for change
Patrick Dangerfield says dangerous drivers need to “pull their heads in” as he spearheads a road safety campaign following the horror death of his uncle.