John Theoharis: Lefkas Taverna owner admits in court to driving charge, fined and disqualified
The owner of one of southeast Queensland’s most popular Greek restaurants was dobbed in for flouting the conditions of his restricted work licence, which was imposed for drug driving, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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The owner of one of southeast Queensland’s most beloved Greek restaurants, West End’s Lefkas Taverna, has been fined and disqualified after admitting to flouting the conditions of his restricted work licence.
Cannon Hill man John Steven Theoharis, 46, who has owned and operated Lefkas alongside estranged wife Angela Theoharis since 2005, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in breach of s87(10) of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
The court heard the offence occurred on the morning of December 29 last year at Surfers Paradise.
At about 10.15am, police received intelligence Theoharis had driven from Brisbane to the Gold Coast in breach of his restricted work licence, which was granted by the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 19, 2024.
Court records show the restricted licence was issued after Theoharis pleaded guilty to a charge of drug driving, for which he was also fined $600, with a conviction recorded.
Acting on the intelligence, police attended Q1 Resort, where they reviewed CCTV from the underground carpark which confirmed Theoharis had been driving a vehicle.
Upstairs in one of the units, Theoharis confessed to officers he had been driving in contravention of the work licence, but that he had needed to pick up his kids, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Kris Jahnke told the court his client was going through a “very difficult separation” with the child’s mother, Angela.
“On this particular day, there was no-one else to pick up the kids,” Mr Jahnke said.
Mr Jahnke said his client had originally applied for a restricted work licence as it was needed to help manage the dual responsibilities of the restaurant and a “boutique car dealership” on the Gold Coast that Theoharis has an interest in.
Any loss of licence imposed by the court – Theoharis has lost eligibility for a restricted work licence due to the new offending – would cause the defendant “extreme difficulties”, Mr Jahnke said.
Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson said there were still options available to Theoharis other than contravening his restricted work licence, such as engaging a paid service such as Uber.
She disqualified him from driving for three months and fined him $300.
No conviction was recorded.
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