John Balafas: Bondi doctor alleged breached AVO by flying drone

An eastern suburbs doctor allegedly breached an AVO when he piloted a drone near the home of the protected person, a court has heard.

Bondi GP John Balafas.

An experienced eastern suburbs doctor is accused of breaching an apprehended domestic violence order when he “flew a drone” near the alleged victim’s house, a court has heard.

John Balafas, 48, fronted Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to defend charges of stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm and contravening an apprehended domestic violence order (AVO) laid following his arrest on October 21. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of stalk/intimidate and no plea has been entered to the charge of contravening an AVO.

According to documents tendered to court, police allege Balafas did stalk or intimidate the alleged victim “with the intention of causing … fear [of] physical or mental harm” between 6am on September 30 and 6pm on October 21 at Dover Heights.

Police also allege Balafas “did knowingly” contravene an AVO between September 3 and October 20 in the same suburb.

As a result of new evidence, police made an application to broaden the dates on the court attendance notice.

John Balafas walking out of Sydney Downing Centre Local Court with his lawyer on Friday.

Balafas’ barrister Chris McGorey took issue with the application and told the court the police case had shifted with the reference of a “drone”.

Mr McGorey said the drone hadn’t been part of the police case until recently and told Magistrate Gareth Christofi he was “at a disadvantage” because he wasn’t prepared for this “aspect”. 

The police prosecutor told the court the amendment was sought because the alleged victim had not initially made clear the dates of the incidents.

The court also heard Balafas “pretty much [had] daily contact” with the alleged victim in contravention of an AVO, “including the drone incident”.

Mr McGorey said, in arguing against the amendment to the court attendance notice, he was “concerned” the police case would become “more and more fluid”.

Ultimately Magistrate Christofi granted the application to amend the date range on the court attendance notice and offered Balafas’ legal team an opportunity to ask for an adjournment, however no application was made. 

In the hearing, Mr McGorey told the court there was “no dispute that there was ongoing contact” between Balafas and the alleged victim.

“Contact was both ways, initiated by both sides,” he said.

The matter was adjourned part-heard and will return to court in April.

Balafas is also facing separate charges of six counts of contravening an AVO which he has pleaded not guilty to.