Melbourne fitness coach Steven ‘Stavros’ Pentaris avoids jail for trafficking cocaine
A Melbourne fitness coach nabbed with coke worth more than $50,000 has been lashed in court for “spreading the scourge”.
Inner East
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A Melbourne fitness coach who peddled cocaine after his business closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic has avoided a jail term.
Steven “Stavros” Pentaris, 30, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday to an 18-month community correction order after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking cocaine.
Pentaris was nabbed after Prahran Divisional Response Unit members raided his apartment on September 25 last year.
Police seized 175g of cocaine — some divvied up in deal bags — hidden in a locked safe and other parts of the property.
Investigators also seized MDMA, $10,500 cash bundled in $100 notes, a money counter, scales, empty deal bags, a tick book, two mobile phones, an Yves Saint Laurent bumbag and a Louis Vuitton wallet stamped with Pentaris’s initials.
Pentaris, who has a prior for assault, was hauled off for questioning but gave a “no comment” interview.
Pentaris, who pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, also refused to give police access to his iPhone.
Zarah Garde-Wilson, for Pentaris, said her client’s offending was “clearly very serious” but asked he be spared an immediate jail term.
Ms Garde-Wilson submitted Pentaris turned to drug trafficking after his fitness business and his partner’s beauty salon were unable to operate due to the pandemic.
“He made the stupid decision to do this for financial gain …,” Ms Garde-Wilson said.
“He was clearly caught red-handed … he’s learnt the lesson that crime doesn't pay.”
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani said during last week’s plea hearing that Pentaris’ offending was “sophisticated” and warned him a jail term was on the cards.
“There is $53,000 worth of drugs present in his home,” Magistrate Bazzani said.
“His girlfriend apparently knows nothing about it … everyone knows nothing about it, he manages to somehow keep himself in funds.
“I don’t have $10,500 cash lying around, not many people do, I think this is sophisticated …
“I think he needs to come in … two o’clock.”
Magistrate Bazzani asked Pentaris what would happen if she ordered a drug test for him today.
“It will be negative,” Pentaris said.
“I wonder if your clients could say the same thing,” Magistrate Bazzani said.
“Cocaine is the most addictive drug which exists in the community …
“MDMA is an entry-level drug for kids, we both know that, it lures them in, coke is the epitome of drugs as I understand it in terms with how it makes you feel.
“So while you’re clean and on the straight and narrow I wonder if the kids you were dealing to … It’s just such a terrible drug, it’s spreading the scourge …
“Pure financial gain, it’s just atrocious behaviour, it’s evil behaviour.”
Pentaris was convicted and also ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work.
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