Elena Niotis: Chadstone woman, Aussie actor cops four-year driving ban

This Aussie actor’s latest role was in online court after featuring in a police pursuit on the Monash Freeway.

Helen Niotis

An Aussie actor has been hit with a massive ban for refusing to accompany police for a drug test following an aerial pursuit along the Monash Freeway.

Elena Niotis (real name Helen Niotis) has played parts in movies including Trojan Warrior, The Garth Method and Garth Lives in a Van.

Her latest role was appearing online at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to driving in a manner dangerous and refusing to accompany police for a drug test.

The court heard the 50-year-old Chadstone woman has a shocking traffic history with two drink-drives and three driving while suspended crimes on her rap sheet.

It was revealed in court, police received reports of an erratic driver weaving in and out of traffic on the Monash Freeway in Endeavour Hills at about 3pm on July 28, 2019.

The police helicopter started to track Niotis’ Toyota sedan as it reached speeds of up to 140km/h, swerving around other cars and narrowly avoiding collisions.

Police stopped her on Centre Rd in Narre Warren, where she passed an alcohol breath test.

The court heard Niotis failed her roadside drug sample, and when asked to accompany officers for a full evidentiary test, she repeatedly refused.

Even when advised it would mean a minimum two-year driving ban, Niotis still did not comply, saying she was “a bit scared”.

Because she had a previous drink-drive fail in the last 10 years her disqualification period was automatically doubled.

Niotis’ defence lawyer said his client sometimes had trouble hearing and may not have directly understood what ‘refusing’ meant, but that was still no excuse for her actions.

He said at the time of the offence she was having problems with a tradie, who she believed was following her, so had sped up to get away from him.

The lawyer said the actor, who was also once a promising swimmer, was “utterly ashamed” about her driving and was thankful there was no accident or injuries caused.

He said she was now on carer’s benefits for looking after her mother and could provide clean screens to show she was not using drugs.

Magistrate Andrew Halse said it seemed Niotis only heard “what she wanted to hear” regarding a request to accompany police for full drug test.

Mr Halse said her driving, at up to 140km/h at a busy time of the day on a road notorious for crashes, was “incredibly dangerous”.

“Her explanation of being a bit scared is not an excuse for driving in the manner described,” Mr Halse said.

“And she has a troubling driving history.

“She should be under no illusion if she is picked up driving again (during the ban) she is likely to find she is a significant risk of a period in custody.”

Niotis was convicted, fined $1250 and disqualified from driving for four years.