Vasitios Perdikaris intimidated two Sutherland Shire Council parking officers in Menai

A truck driver threatened to “drop” a council officer and slammed him for “revenue raising” when he was issued a fine for illegally parking his semi in Sydney, a court has heard.

Vasitios Perdikaris, 54, pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidation. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A truck driver threatened to “drop” a council officer and slammed him for “revenue raising” when he was issued a fine for illegally parking his semi-trailer, a court has heard.

Vasitios Perdikaris, 54, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday to two counts of intimidation.

Agreed facts tendered to court state two Sutherland Shire Council officers were carrying out parking checks on August 4, 2022.

Perdikaris was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court.

They were on Old Illawarra Rd, Menai where they marked a semi trailer because long or heavy vehicles can only be stopped on the road for an hour.

The officers returned an hour and a half later to find the truck still in the same spot and they intended to issue the owner a ticket.

The officers were measuring the length of the trailer for their records when Perdikaris pulled up in a white ute.

He approached a male officer and was informed of the parking issues.

Perdikaris said it was his truck and he stood extremely close to the officer, the documents state.

The officer put an arm out and Perdikaris pushed forward into his hand before he was asked to step back.

Perdikaris began yelling in the officer’s face and refused to move back.

He yelled: “Youse (sic) are the dogs that have been booking my trucks for parking here.”

The officer feared Perdikaris would hit him, he stepped back and Perdikaris lunged at him.

The officer put his arms up to stop Perdikaris getting closer.

Perdikaris screamed again: “You f--king dogs are just revenue raising.”

The officer told Perdikaris to calm down and step back three times.

Perdikaris clenched his fist and got so close the officer that he could not extend his arm.

He told the officer: “Don’t touch me you c--t - I will drop you where you stand.”

Perdikaris threatened to go to A Current Affair during the blue with parking officers. Pictured is well-known former host Tracy Grimshaw during an interview with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Perdikaris went back to his ute and yelled he would report the officers to TV show A Current Affair, the documents state.

Perdikaris crossed undivided lines and drove close to an officers as he left.

He laughed, reversed his car and put his hand in the shape of a gun, pretending to shoot the officers before he drove off.

Police arrested and charged Perdikaris the next day.

Perdikaris claimed an officer yelled at him first and he was pushed. He denied pushing the officer, threatening to “drop him”, or making a ‘finger gun’.

The court heard Perdikaris was employed as a truckie and married with children.

Defence lawyer Jessica Burke said Perdikaris accepted responsibly and felt “strong remorse”.

She said Perdikaris was suffering financial stress and health complications at the time, but conceded his behaviour was “inappropriate and disproportionate”.

Ms Burke said Perdikaris unsuccessfully undertook Land and Environment Court proceedings against the council - and owed $67,000.

She added Perdikaris was previously fined and believed he had been targeted.

Perdikaris found alternative arrangements to park his truck so the issue would not arise again, the lawyer said.

Ms Burke suggested Perdikaris could take part in anger management programs.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said Perdikaris had an “intention to intimidate” the officers.

He imposed before a 15-month community correction order and fined Perdikaris $750.