Tobi Pearce: Partner of Bikini Body health queen, Kayla Itsines, fined over ‘appalling’ driving and possession of steroid-linked tablets
A WEALTHY entrepreneur and fiance to Bikini Girl Kayla Itsines has been fined for his “appalling and dangerous” driving but has escaped conviction for having illegal prescription drugs linked to steroid use.
Law and Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law and Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Meet ‘Pablo’, Adelaide’s phantom parker
- Bikini Girl vs. Banana Girl — bizarre court battle finalised
- Tory Shepherd: Inside the cult of Instagram fitness fanatics
ONE of South Australia’s wealthiest entrepreneurs and the partner of a global social media fitness queen has been condemned for his “appalling and dangerous” driving but has escaped conviction for having illegal prescription drugs linked to steroid abuse.
Businessman Tobias Robert William Pearce, 25, was caught speeding at twice the legal limit in his Lamborghini along one of Adelaide’s main arterial roads in February last year.
Pearce, who is partner of bikini-body queen Kayla Itsines, 26 — the richlister pair are estimated to be worth $46 million — tried to “conceal” a blister pack of four Cabolin prescription medication after being stopped by police in an unmarked car.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard the “anti-oestrogen” pills reduced hormones but was also “often used with steroids” but was not considered a “recreational” drug.
Pearce, known as Tobi, denied consuming the tablets, instead claiming an unnamed person left them in his black Lamborghini Huracan — complete with personalised TOBIAS numberplates.
The Advertiser last year revealed online controversy over his parking in a disabled bay. That car bore the numberplate PABLO. It is not known if Pearce, who has transformed himself from a “60kg classical musician in high school to a 102kg bodybuilder”, possesses a disabled parking permit.
Pearce, of Lockleys, in the western suburbs, was convicted, fined $1500 and banned from driving for a year after admitting driving in a reckless or dangerous manner.
He was further fined $150 after pleading guilty to possess a prescription drug, not being a drug of dependence.
But Magistrate Brett Dixon declined a conviction because of the “serious implications” on Pearce’s growing online health and fitness business although he said the crime was not “trifling”.
He accepted Pearce, who did not attend the specially convened hearing, put the tablets in his pocket but any conviction “consequences” was “disproportionate” to the crime. Prosecutors wanted a jail term, even suspended, to “protect the public from this type of high risk offending”.
He faced a maximum two years in prison. Mr Dixon ruled: “The manner of driving was appalling, it was dangerous and clearly there were a number of people who were embarrassed by the … behaviour.” The Advertiser revealed in February how Pearce, the chief executive officer of the Parkside-based Bikini Body Training Company and Sweat online application, was due to face trial in May after initially denying the charges.
The case was, however, secretly finished in April — the details of which the court has since released.
Prosecutor Dayl Pope told the court Pearce was observed accelerating “sharply”, and “veering” through traffic along South Road, Black Forest, at 7.35am on February 26 last year. Travelling south over the Cross Road overpass, police estimated his speed topped 120km/h.
The tablets fell from his pocket as he removed his keys when police moved to impounded his car.
Pearce, who rubbed shoulders with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull days after his hearing, told police he was “unsure” of his speed as he was not “paying attention to the speedometer”.
Entering the guilty pleas, Stephen Ey, defending, said his client “regrets the offending and he’s highly embarrassed”. “It has had a massive impact upon him, he’s worried greatly about it.”
In a statement Pearce, who had to pay an almost $1000 impound fee and court costs, was “very sorry” for his driving but refused a drugs explanation.
“I fully understand the potential ramifications and gravity of my actions and I would never want to put anyone in harm’s way,” he said.
Home invaders steal, then crash, Mercedes
A luxury Mercedes sedan has been stolen by a man and woman during a violent home invasion at Kurralta Park.
It’s official: Notorious child predator to stay locked up
A notorious serial kidnapper and child predator has finally had his bid for release into the community denied after a two-year legal and political battle.