Dylan Elias Iliopoulos and father Elias Iliopoulos charged with blackmail after business deal soured

A father and son allegedly stormed a business owner’s warehouse and blackmailed him to transfer $25,000 after a deal soured, a court has heard.

A father and son allegedly ambushed a business owner at his warehouse before forcing him to transfer $25,000, a court has heard.

Dylan Elias Iliopoulos, 30, and his father Elias Iliopoulos, 57, are standing trial in the District Court this week after a soured business deal allegedly turned violent.

James Meegan, for the prosecution, told the court in his opening statement that the alleged victim, Gary Doody ran a business called Active Recreations Solutions, which specialised in building playgrounds.

The court heard Mr Doody was looking for some extra workers in 2020 and Dylan contacted him after he placed an advertisement on Seek.

Dylan and another man then started working for Mr Doody who contracted them to a job for the Naracoorte Council.

Dylan Iliopoulos is charged with blackmail and theft. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Mr Doody travelled to Naracoorte and saw things weren’t progressing well and was told by someone in the council that they weren’t happy with the work.

Mr Doody sent the men a text message on November 9, 2020 saying their working relationship was over and asked them to send him an invoice for what they believed they were owed.

The court heard Mr Doody was alone in his Edwardstown warehouse on November 12, 2020 when Dylan and Elias arrived.

Mr Meegan said Mr Doody fell over and Dylan and Elias allegedly held him down.

“Dylan said that he wanted Mr Doody to pay him $25,000,” Mr Meegan said.

“Mr Doody transferred him the money via his electronic banking.”

The court heard Elias asked Mr Doody if he knew what he did for a living, which he replied he didn’t

“And Elias said that this is what he did for a living; that he goes around and gets money from builders who don’t pay,” Mr Meegan said.

Dylan also allegedly stole Mr Doody’s phone.

The court heard Mr Doody was taken to hospital with cuts on his face, swelling in his wrist and suffered a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder.

The court heard when interviewed by the police Dylan told them he went to Mr Doody’s warehouse and had an “amicable” discussion with him about the $14,000 that was owed to him and the other worker.

“When asked why Mr Doody had effectively paid him $11,000 more than what was owed Dylan said that Mr Doody had ‘obviously liked us’ and that during this conversation Mr Doody was saying that he actually wanted to keep them working for him,” Mr Meegan said.

Dylan, of Morphett Vale, and Elias, of Goodwood, pleaded not guilty to blackmail, while Dylan also pleaded not guilty to theft.

Chris Allen, for Dylan, told the court it wasn’t in contention that his client went to the warehouse but rather what happened while he was there.

Giving evidence, Mr Doody told the court he heard a car roar down the driveway on the day of the alleged incident.

“I was confronted by Dylan who was ranting and raving looking, acting very aggressively and basically yelling ‘Where’s my money c***?’,” he said.

Mr Doody said his next memory was being on the ground and Dylan allegedly ramming his knee into his chest, while Elias was trying to hold him down.

“I lost my glasses. Yeah it was just being screamed at and assaulted,” he said.

“I was really, really scared.”

The trial before a jury continues.

Originally published as Dylan Elias Iliopoulos and father Elias Iliopoulos charged with blackmail after business deal soured