Aristotle Stravos: Catalina real estate agent busted drink driving

A well-known and “respected” south coast real estate agent has been sentenced after drunkenly driving to pick up a packet of cigarettes.

Aristotle Stravos leaving Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

A well known south coast real estate agent has been busted drink driving during a trip to grab a packet of cigarettes after hearing he needed major surgery.

The incident saw Aristotle Stravos, 46, wind up in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, charged with mid range drink driving.

The Catalina-based Ray White real estate agent pleaded guilty to the charge.

Documents tendered to the court reveal the 46-year-old man drank “five or six” whiskeys and cokes on the evening of April 16, after hearing he would need to have his knee caps replaced.

The news shook Stravos who, after drinking the multiple alcoholic beverages, got in his Toyota Rav 4 and began driving to his nearby supermarket to buy a packet of cigarettes.

Aristotle Stravos was sentenced in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

Agreed facts state while driving along George Bass Dr, Batehaven, Stravos was pulled over by a highway patrol car travelling in the opposite direction.

He was subjected to a roadside breath test after the officers smelt intoxicating liquor coming from his breath and the cabin of the vehicle.

Aristotle Stravos's Ray White profile image.

Officers also saw his face to be pale and his eyes glazed.

The test returned a positive result of .106 – more than two times the legal limit.

As a result, Stravos was arrested and taken to the Batemans Bay Police Station, where a secondary test confirmed the reading.

It was during this visit where Stravos admitted to drinking the multiple whiskeys before driving and said he was on his way to buy a packet of smokes.

In court on Monday, Stravos’s lawyer Geoffry Knox said his client was depressed due to hearing about the surgery.

“[Stravos] has had major surgery before so he knows what it is going to entail,” he said.

Mr Knox said his client was a well known and respected realtor in the region and, as a result, he needed his licence to travel to various jobs.

However, Magistrate Michael Love said there was never an excuse to drive while intoxicated.

“I’m sure you agree it’s incredibly disappointing you’re here in court today,” he said.

“It was a terrible decision to throw away your licence for a packet of cigarettes.”

Mr Knox asked Mr Love to consider the minimum licence disqualification period, something the magistrate did not oppose given Stravos’ driving record and positive references.

Stravos was convicted, fined $1000, had his licence disqualified for three months and will need to have an interlock device installed for 12 months once his licence returns.

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