Former professional footballer and seafood heir Sarantis Parissos has been sentenced to six years and four months in jail after a series of serious offences involving South Australian police officers, including a hit-run that left a female officer injured.
Parissos, 41, of West Lakes, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including dangerous driving to escape police and hindering an officer causing harm.
The most serious incident occurred in January 2022 when Parissos, tracked by PolAir in a black Range Rover, dragged a female officer several metres during an attempted arrest before fleeing.
He was later hit by a car while running from police and taken to hospital with a broken neck. The officer was also hospitalised and said in a victim impact statement the incident left her “frozen in pain.”
“2022 was the worst year of my life, physically and mentally,” she told the court. “My health is worth more than being treated like a speed bump.”
Parissos had previously stolen a police patrol car in December 2021, throwing an officer 10 metres and dislocating his shoulder.
“I knew if the gear stick was put into drive, I was in extreme danger… which would have likely killed me or seriously injured me,” the officer said.
Once a professional footballer in Greece and an employee at his family’s now-sold business, Parissos Seafoods, Parissos spiralled into drug use before the incidents. His lawyer admitted the actions were “catastrophically bad.”
Judge Rauf Soulio imposed a non-parole period of five years and one month, backdated to April 2022. Parissos was also disqualified from driving for four years.
Outside court, Police Association President Wade Burns welcomed the sentence, saying, “Police must be protected… It was pleasing to see a reasonably significant sentence handed down.”
Source: The Advertiser.
