Top Palm Beach real estate agents admit to Uber driver assault in front of their wives

A pair of Gold Coast luxury property salesmen have told a court they have little recollection of a violent struggle with a rideshare driver in front of their wives. See their punishment.

These top McGrath Palm Beach real estate agents have faced court after assaulting an Uber driver.

Two sales agents from a prestigious Palm Beach real estate agency claim they don’t remember assaulting an Uber driver due to “intoxication”, a court has heard.

Uber driver Fahad Sharaz arrived at Kirra Surf Club for McGrath Palm Beach principal seller and auctioneer Billy Jaz and sales agent Paul Ryan Hilliard and their wives at 6:20pm on July 21, senior constable Kim Murphy told Coolangatta Magistrates Court.

Billy Jaz, a Palm Beach McGrath realestate sales agent and auctioneer.

But an argument broke out after Mr Sharaz refused to let them enter his car claiming they were intoxicated, Ms Murphy told court.

“Jaz opened the passenger door and grabbed the victim by the shirt,” Ms Murphy said.

“Hilliard at this time was at the rear of the car but moved to the drivers’ door and prevented it from shutting by holding on to it.”

As Mr Sharaz attempted to drive away, Jaz, 38, kicked the rear passenger door of the car, denting it. That prompted Sharaz to get out of the car and he “pushed” Jaz in retaliation.

Seeing Mr Sharaz shove Jaz, Hilliard, 49, grabbed Sharaz by the arm and “wrestled in the car park” before eventually breaking free of each other, the court heard.

Paul Ryan Hilliard, a Palm Beach McGrath real estate sales agent.

But as Mr Sharaz attempted to walk back to his car, a second argument broke out with Hilliard shoving Mr Sharaz “with enough force that the victim lost his balance and fell into the footwell of his vehicle”, Ms Murphy told the court.

Emerging from his car, Mr Sharaz attempted to film the two prominent real estate agents with his iPhone.

But Jaz “lashed out” using his arm, hitting Mr Sharaz’s phone out of his hand onto the roadway leaving it damaged.

Police were eventually called to the scene where they found Jaz and Hilliard a short distance away from the carpark.

Paul Ryan Hilliard (left) and Billy Jaz (right) assaulted an Uber driver who refused to pick them up because they were “intoxicated” a court has heard. Picture: Instagram

A week later on July 27, both Jaz and Hilliard were interviewed separately at the Courthouse where both claimed to officers they “had very little recollection of the incident due to their level of intoxication”, Ms Murphy said.

“Hilliard stated he knew he did the wrong thing. Jaz also said he had very little recollection, however, recalled kicking the vehicle,” she said.

Jaz and Hilliard both pleaded guilty to one count each of common assault. Jaz, an award-winning auctioneer, also pleaded guilty to wilful damage.

Jaz and Hilliard’s lawyer Riccoh Deobarama of Guardian Criminal Law said the pair were “very remorseful”.

“They’re both family men, both professionals, both real-estate agents. They are very remorseful for their actions.”

Jaz and Hilliard were each fined $750, referred to SPER. Jaz was also ordered to pay restitution of $1255.43 referred to SPER. No convictions were recorded.