Christos Panagakos living with mum after drug bust, Southport Magistrates Court told

A Gold Coaster who had been accused of his ex’s shooting death before charges were dropped has pleaded guilty to 13 separate charges. Find out what happened in court

Christos Panagakos. Picture: Lea Emery

A Gold Coaster who had been accused of his ex’s shooting death before charges were dropped now faces a nine-month probation order after admitting 13 separate charges of drug possession, stealing and a bail breach.

When Christos Panagakos was sentenced in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, it was revealed he was living with his mother after four months in drug rehab.

On September 12, police busted Panagakos with 1ml of testosterone, 10ml of steroid trenbolone, 1ml of a human growth hormone, 60 diazepam tablets, syringes and needles.

On July 11 last year, the 31-year-old heavily tattooed ex-body builder was charged with stealing after he was found with items stolen from a car park, including a children’s life jacket and drill bit.

Christos Panagakos (left) with his lawyer Michael Gatenby outside Southport Courthouse. Picture: Lea Emery

Police prosecutor Aylish Robertson said Panagakos was also found with a glass pipe, two small vials of testosterone, two syringes and two clip seal bags containing xanax and meth in September 2021.

“The offences are aggravated by virtue of (Panagakos’) criminal history - it is now some 10 pages in length,” she said.

Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby said his client instructed he believed the stolen items to be unwanted.

“It was all in a trailer - a bundle of things that looked to him like it was going to the tip,” he said.

Mr Gatenby was advised the steroids in Panagakos’ possession in September had “been there for ages”.

He said Panagakos had recently spent four months at a residential rehab.

“He became unwell and needed to vary the bail undertaking so he could reside away from the residential facility - he’s now back home with his mother.”

Magistrate Mark Bamberry sentenced Panagakos to a nine-month probation order.

Convictions were recorded.

Back in March, manslaughter charges against Panagakos were dropped after ex Ivona Jovanovic died from a gunshot wound in 2019.