Kristian Contos: PRD Beverly Hills real estate agent pleads guilty to drug driving charge

The Beverly Hills real estate agent attended Sutherland Shire Local Court on Tuesday to face a charge of driving with drugs present in his system. Find out what happened.

A real estate agent will seek to avoid a criminal conviction under mental health grounds for his second charge of drug driving, a court has heard.

Kristian Mitchell Contos, pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug present second offence, when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

An agent profile for Contos, who works for PRD Beverly Hills, said he had been in sales in the real estate industry from 18 years of age.

“He has lived and grown up in Strathfield for 25 years. Kristian has an extremely sharp and broad understanding of the Sydney market, knowing what is crucial in truly achieving outstanding results,” the website said.

Real estate agent Kristian Contos (left) pictured with his lawyer, pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug present, second offence, when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A statement of facts tendered to court said Contos, who lives in Strathfield South, was driving a white Audi S3 in a westerly direction on Morgan Street in Beverly Hills on May 31 this year at about 2.10pm.

St George Police were travelling in the opposite direction and estimated Contos was driving in excess of the signposted 50km/h speed limit.

Police did a U-turn and activated their warning lights and siren indicating for Contos pull over, which he did.

Police approached the window and Contos was told he was stopped as a result of his speed and asked to provide his driver’s licence.

Contos was breath tested and returned a negative result before he was subjected to an oral fluid test which made a positive detection to cocaine.

Contos said he had not taken cocaine and it was impossible for it to be positive, the documents said.

Police searched Contos and his car and found nothing of interest.

Contos was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he underwent a second drug test which also returned a positive result.

Kristian Contos left Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

A further sample was sent to the Forensic and Analytical Science Service for analysis giving the same result.

Contos told officers “he didn’t know the last time he took cocaine and that he rarely takes it, only for special occasions or when someone offers it to him”, the court documents said.

He was ordered not to drive for 24 hours and issued with a notice to attend court.

The court documents said on May 15, 2021 Contos was charged with driving a vehicle with an illicit drug present in blood where he received a conditional release order without conviction for 18 months, to conclude March 9 next year.

In court, Contos’ lawyer John Vizzone formally entered a plea of guilty and sought an adjournment to November 2 this year for a mental health application.

The court heard Contos will see a forensic psychologist in the meantime.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart noted that if the application to have the charge dealt with under the Mental Health Act rather than criminal law then the court could recommend Contos lose his licence.

The court also heard Contos will be re-sentenced for the previous drug driving charge from May 2021.

Outside court, Mr Vizzone said at the time of the offence, “unfortunately our client was going through some difficulties in his life”.

“Thankfully through his support networks he has largely overcome those difficulties. We look forward to putting to the court in detail how he has and is dealing with those challenges,” he said.

“There were extenuating circumstances which resulted in our client receiving no conviction last time and we will once again explain the reasons to the court about that incident.

“Our client is sorry for his error of judgment on this occasion and is serious about ensuring he does not repeat his offending behaviour.”