Sam Maree: Eastern suburbs boxing trainer and dating show contestant escapes conviction for intimidating ex-partner

An eastern suburbs dating show contestant who loitered around his ex-partner’s apartment and messaged her “what the f--k are you doing you f--king s--t” when she arrived home in the early hours of the morning has escaped a conviction.

Sam Maree leaving Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. Photo: NewsWire / Nikki Short

An eastern suburbs boxing trainer and dating show contestant who loitered around his ex-partner’s apartment and messaged her “what the f--k are you doing you f--king s--t” when she arrived home in the early hours of the morning has escaped a conviction.

Sam Maree, who features in an advertisement for the upcoming Channel 7 dating show Stranded on Honeymoon Island, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday wearing all black sunglasses inside the courthouse before he was sentenced for intimidation.

The 31-year-old had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge along with a single count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend which was later dismissed after he pleaded guilty to intimidation.

Agreed facts state Maree and the woman were in a relationship for about a year which ended sometime in February or March last year at which point he became “emotionally erratic towards the victim”.

At one point Maree approached the woman in the street and would frequently contact her “almost everyday” with phone calls and messages ranging from affectionate to abusive.

The woman had said she wasn’t interested in speaking with him anymore, however, Maree attempted to manipulate her.

Agreed facts indicate he told her he was “suffering from cancer or he would kill himself” if she stopped contacting him.

Sam Maree in an advertisement for dating show Stranded on Honeymoon Island which will feature on Channel 7.

During one of the phone calls towards the end of their relationship, Maree said words to the effect of “what the f--k are you doing, you f--king s--t. I just seen you get home, it’s five o’clock in the morning, where have you been”.

Maree approached the woman months later at Harris Farm Market in Potts Point where they had about an hour long conversation, initially starting off friendly but it became aggressive after he discovered the woman was in a new relationship.

He told her “this is the one guy I’ve been jealous of. I can’t believe you’ve done this … this is it, you’re going down”.

As Maree walked away the woman followed him and he accused her of recording him.

A further argument ensued with Maree saying “that’s it. That’s it. It’s going down”.

Sam Maree. Photo: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The woman later reported Maree to the police.

Before Magistrate Miranda Moody handed down her decision, she rejected a mental health application made by Maree’s lawyer Jonathan Jaramillo, saying his client was ineligible.

Despite acknowledging Maree was experiencing a “great sense of loss and sadness” she told the court it didn’t excuse his behaviour.

Ms Moody said “he was a total pest” and gave off the “impression that he was obviously watching” the woman.

Maree was ultimately spared a conviction and placed on a 12 month conditional release order.

A two-year AVO to protect the woman was also ordered by the court.

Maree is described as being the “founding trainer” at Hustle Boxing which boasts almost 12k followers on Instagram and has gyms in Potts Point and Newtown.

A Channel 7 spokeswoman said the media company was unaware of the matter and production conducted extensive background checks on contestants and “did not find any issues in relation to Sam Maree”.