Scanlan Theodore co-founder Gary Theodore fined after driving while disqualified

Scanlan Theodore creative director Gary Theodore has faced court after he was nabbed behind the wheel while disqualified for drink driving.

Gary Theodore. Picture: Christian Gilles

The co-founder of luxury fashion label Scanlan Theodore, Gary Theodore, claims he made an “honest mistake” when he was nabbed behind the wheel while disqualified for drink driving.

Theodore, 64, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he was fined $500 but spared conviction after admitting to a single charge of driving while disqualified on Camberwell Rd on June 24.

The court heard the creative director was spotted in Toorak by police before he was pulled over and informed his licence had been cancelled due to a prior drink driving offence.

Theodore admitted his drink driving history but told the officers he thought his driving ban didn’t kick in for another two days.

“I thought I was licenced,” he said.

Theodore’s lawyer Michael Pena-Rees told the court his client was cooperative with police and made an “honest mistake” when he mixed up his dates.

“He said he made a mistake with the date, he understands you can’t make that mistake,” he said.

The court heard Theodore was disqualified from driving for three months after he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.055 — just over the legal limit.

His licence had since been returned and no further offences had taken place.

Mr Pena-Rees added Theodore had a clean driving record aside from a single offence more than 30 years ago.

Judicial registrar Anthony Gwynne accepted Theodore had made an “honest mistake” but said that did not make it a “reasonable” one.

“It’s certainly a mistake that shouldn’t have been made,” he said.

Mr Gwynne suspended Theodore’s licence for two weeks and fined him $500 without conviction.

Theodore founded Scanlan Theodore with Fiona Scanlan on Chapel Street in 1987.

The high-end fashion label sells women’s garments and has boutiques in the CBD, Armadale and in South Yarra where its head office is located.

Former First Lady Melania Trump was spotted wearing a Scanlan Theodore dress when she met former Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his visit to the United States in 2019.