McGrath Terrigal real estate franchise owner Trevor James Hamilton, 50, admits threatening rival

Real estate is, figuratively, a cutthroat business but a long-running feud between two leading Central Coast agents took a sinister turn with an anonymous threat, a court has heard.

McGrath Terrigal principal Trevor Hamilton has pleaded guilty to threatening a rival agent for “bad mouthing” him in the community. Picture: supplied

A simmering feud between two leading real estate agents boiled over when one rang the other from a private number and left a sinister threat, a court has heard.

McGrath Terrigal principal Trevor James Hamilton, 50, faced Wyong Local Court on April 16 where he pleaded guilty to one count of intimidation.

An agreed set of facts states Hamilton rang a rival agent from an anonymous number on February 6 and left a message on his voicemail saying “watch your back c..t”.

But Hamilton’s solicitor David Kelly told the court that was the culmination of long-running animosity between the pair, which started back in October 2023 when the victim had an exclusive agency agreement to list a property.

Mr Kelly said when the agreement expired Hamilton became involved in selling the property.

McGrath Terrigal principal Trevor James Hamilton, 50, arriving at Wyong Local Court where he pleaded guilty to intimidation after calling a rival agent and leaving a threatening voicemail. Picture: News Local

“The victim has taken affront with that,” Mr Kelly said.

He told the court there was a complaint to Fair Trading but his client was found to have done “nothing untoward” except failing to file a particular form.

Hamilton took matters into his own hands by leaving a threatening voicemail. Picture: mcgrath.com.au

“Following that my client started receiving calls from people he had sold houses to, or had dealings with, indicating the victim had been bad mouthing him in the community,” Mr Kelly said.

“Unfortunately my client has dealt with that issue by leaving that message on his phone.”

He said Hamilton was an emergency department nurse for 15 years before becoming a successful real estate agent and owner of a franchise.

Mr Kelly also tendered a character reference for Hamilton from McGrath founder and chief executive John McGrath.

He said Hamilton was under a lot of stress at the time with both his parents in poor health and his own health concerns.

Mr Kelly said following the message the victim’s brother attended Hamilton’s real estate office and that there was “some animosity from the victim” towards his client.

Magistrate Justin Peach said the feud had been going on for long enough.

“Hopefully this puts an end to it,” he said before finding Hamilton guilty but without recording a conviction.

Instead Mr Peach put Hamilton on a conditional release order to be of good behaviour for 18 months.