A troubled young multi-millionaire has been given a stern warning by a judge after a court heard his life was ‘spinning out of control’ due to his drug use.
Andrew Spira entered Waverley Local Court via video link on Wednesday after pleading guilty to breaching the terms of a restraining order issued by police to protect his ex-girlfriend.
The 24-year-old had been in a relationship with the woman, who is 16 years his senior, for more than six years when they split in December last year.
The court was told the couple owned an impressive portfolio of properties together and records show one of their homes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs recently sold for $10 million.
Months after the split, court documents reveal police obtained a violence order to protect Spira’s ex-partner after he was accused of assaulting her.
Andrew Spira (above) has been convicted of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend
The former couple owned a lucrative property portfolio together before splitting last year
The 24-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the common assault charge and will fight the charge in court next year.
As part of the restraining order, he is barred from contacting his ex-partner except through a lawyer.
Despite the ban, Spira admitted calling her on several occasions over two months and even texting her housemate in an attempt to let her know he missed her.
One of the phone calls between the former couple, which was overheard by a witness, lasted an hour and a half.
When the woman reminded Spira that he would be ‘in trouble’ for contacting her, he admitted that he knew the terms of the order.
Spira told a psychologist he was ‘feeling bad’ and didn’t consider the consequences of breaching the restraining order when he contacted his ex-partner.
His lawyer Najee Makhoul said Spira had difficulty accepting the breakup because his ex-partner was the first person he had had a relationship with.
The court heard Spira (left) had endured ‘deprivation and neglect’ while living with his alcoholic mother (right) and her partners
The court heard the couple began their relationship when Spira was 17.
Makhoul said his client had endured ‘deprivation and neglect’ while living with his alcoholic mother and her partners.
Spira’s mother is Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Buttrose, a former Sydney socialite and granddaughter of media mogul Ita Buttrose.
By the time he was in his 20s, Spira reported taking 40 pills a day of a prescription painkiller, in addition to drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis.
The court heard he had completed numerous stints in rehabilitation centers after his life ‘spiraled out of control’ due to drug abuse.
Magistrate Ross Hudson said Spira explained to psychologists that he used the drug as an ‘escape tool’.
He said the 24-year-old reported not having any close relationships during his formative years.
Spira (above) reported taking 40 pills a day of a prescription painkiller, in addition to drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis
“(His ex-partner) was effectively one of his most important relationships that he formed in that period of his life,” he said.
“Because of the support and because of the light he saw (her), it was difficult to cut ties with him.”
The judge accepted that Spira had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite his struggles, the court heard Spira was the founder of the successful business loan company Pineapple Funding, which had made $4 million a year before he was arrested.
Magistrate Hudson took into account the entrepreneur’s ‘strong subjective case’ when sentencing him on two counts of breaching an AVO and one breach of a bail order relating to a previous AVO breach.
Spira was sentenced to two good behavior obligations of 12 and 15 months respectively and ordered to continue treatment for his mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.
Spira (above) is relieved the case has been resolved, his lawyer said after he was sentenced to two good behavior obligations of 12 and 15 months respectively, and ordered to continue treatment for his mental health and drug and alcohol abuse
Magistrate Hudson warned him not to contact his ex-partner again and said the court ‘will not be toothless’ if it sees another offence.
Although Spira kept a blank face throughout the sentencing, his lead lawyer, Samir Karnib, told NCA NewsWire that he was relieved.
“He is grateful for today’s result and that these issues are now behind him,” he said.
“He is continuing to improve himself and other aspects of his life. He is now determined to go on and get through it.’
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