EXCLUSIVE: Hairdresser friend of Nick Kyrgios's girlfriend sprung stealing petrol and driving unlicensed as P-plater's life unravelled from cocaine and booze addiction
- Bianca Griffin, 21, pleaded guilty to driving offences
- Trainee hairdresser is friends with Costeen Hatzi
- Griffin told the court she was remorseful for her actions
- She said she used to be addicted to alcohol and cocaine
- A hairdresser friend of Nick Kyrgios's model girlfriend Costeen Hatzi has been fined $2300 after admitting to repeatedly driving unlicensed and stealing petrol while in the grip of alcoholand cocaine addiction.
- Bianca Griffin, 21, was busted driving with a suspended licence six times between August 2021 and January 2023 after being spotted on CCTV filling up her white Holden Commodore at a Kingsford petrol station near her eastern Sydney home.
On several occasions, the trainee hairdresser - who was on a two-year conditional release order from May 2020 after being convicted for a dangerous driving offence - was caught filling her tank and speeding off without paying.
The suspended P-plater was also nabbed driving during random road stops, including one time when an undercover cop noticed her car swerving side to side and cutting off other vehicles.
Dressed in black pants, a white collared shirt and a blazer, Griffin was supported by her mother and an Aboriginal support person as she fronted Waverley Court on Friday where she pleaded guilty to 10 offences.
Shortly after the group sat down in Court 2, her mother placed her Louis Vuitton bag on the floor and gazed around the gallery before turning to the support worker and saying: 'She [Griffin] is the best dressed [person] in here.'
A teary Griffin appeared nervous throughout the hearing as she stared pensively at the wall and repeatedly whispered to her mother.
The court heard Griffin's licence had been suspended pending her completion of the Increased Traffic Penalty Knowledge Test when she was sprung driving three times in August 2021.
'In a clumsy way, every time she fills up with fuel, that’s captured on the CCTV. Then police have followed it up and asked "who is driving, and if it not you, who is it?",' Magistrate Ross Hudson said.
'It’s inevitable detection.
'It’s the same service station. Same vehicle.'
Griffin's lawyer told the court she is a second-year hairdressing apprentice, who earns less than $20 an hour. He said at the time of the offences, her life was unravelling due to a drug addiction.
In a statement tendered to the court, Griffin said she was 'remorseful and saddened by her mistakes and behaviour'.
'I was suffering from anxiety and depression due to an addiction to alcohol and cocaine,' the statement, read out by Magistrate Hudson said.
'I have now been clean for a year.
'I’m apologetic for my behaviour and want to put this behind me.'
Griffin also told the court she was dealing with ongoing trauma from watching her mother suffer a violent domestic relationship when she was young.
In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Hudson described Griffin's offending as 'out of control' and urged her to seek help to address past traumas and get her life on track.
'Don’t try and out smart the system. You need to go back to Roads and Maritime Services. Only they can tell you if you can drive,' he said.
'You know if you have a licence.
'Now you tell the court you are sober, there is no excuse for it.'
Griffin appears to mingle in high-profile circles, with models, entrepreneurs, and footballers among her more than 4000 Instagram followers.
The long list of celebrities includes entrepreneur Jade Spooner, fallen NRL star Bronson Xerri, Rabitohs' Jacob Host, Bulldogs player Kyle Flanagan, Brisbane Broncos Hooker Nita Maynard, Roosters Winger Brydie Parker, Sharks half-back Braydon Trindall and famed sporting coach Roger Fabri.
In April 2021, Griffin posted a black-and-white photo online of her kissing Hatzi on the cheek as the pair went out for drinks with friends.
In response, Hatzi wrote: 'Love u' - one of many comments the influencer has sprinkled among Griffin's photos on her Instagram page.
The court also heard Griffin was a talented footballer. Last year, she also placed first in the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) elite Australasian championships in the open wellness and beginners wellness divisions, as well as second in novice wellness.
'We cleaned her up, so proud of her,' a trainer wrote online following her win in April 2022.
We've been training for 3 months, she came with not much experience but great potential and a bad attitude.
'Congratulations little peanut. I'm extremely proud of you!'
According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Griffin drove to the Ampol petrol station about 3pm on 8 August, 2021 - which was her birthday - filled up with 62.77L (or $94 worth) of fuel.
CCTV captured her constantly looking towards the attendant while at the bowser, before hopping back into her car then speeding off.
A week later, she pulled the same stunt at the same petrol station about 9.28am - this time taking off owing $96.
Later that day, an undercover cop spotted her driving recklessly on Bunnerong Road in Matraville before she sped up and took off northbound out of sight.
The officer looked up her license plate at work and realised she was suspended. By chance, he spotted her driving two days later on 17 August along Jersey Road in Matraville.
He drove to her address, where she was just getting out of her car, and confronted her over the suspension, to which she responded: 'I got it back the same day as my mum.'
Griffin completed the test on August 24 and the suspension was lifted - but the next day she found herself in trouble again after speeding off with $112 worth of fuel from the same service station.
After getting her licence back, she was placed back on a suspension between 24 May and 23 August, 2022, after losing demerit points due to camera detection offences.
However, she was busted driving again at 5.50pm on 22 July - this time in a black Hyundai Sedan on Anzac Parade - but told officers she didn't have her licence because 'she left it at work'.
After checking her records, they determined it was suspended and slapped her with a court attendance notice.
In the most recent offence, Griffin was in a black Hyundai Getz driving on Botany Road at Kingsford about 1:50pm when she pulled up to the kerb.
Police noticed her and pulled her over, with the fitness fanatic asked to produce her licence. She handed it over, only for police to discover after running it through the system that it came up suspended.
On Friday, Griffin pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing, four counts of driving while suspended, two counts of not disclosing her details to police, and negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm).
Her licence has been disqualified for six months until 23 August and she has been sentenced to a Community Correction Order for a year. …
BIANCA GRIFFIN'S DRIVING RECORD
March, 2020 - Griffin is convicted of driving in a dangerous manner. She is slapped with a two year Conditional Release Order.
8 April, 2021 - 7 July 2021: Griffin's licence is under a demerit point suspension. This is extended into the following month to allow Griffin to sit an Increased Traffic Penalty Knowledge Test.
8 August, 2021: Griffin drives into Ampol petrol station on Anzac Parade, Kingsford. It's her 20th birthday. She fills up with 62.77L of fuel and drives off.
15 August, 2021: Griffin drives into the same Ampol about 9.30am, fills up with petrol, then drives off. She is later seen swerving within her lane between 1.30pm and 1.35pm driving on Bunnerong Road in Matraville.
17 August, 2021: Griffin is spotted driving while suspended by an off-duty police officer about 3.50pm on Jersey Rd, Matraville.
24 August, 2021: Griffin completes the Increased Traffic Penalty Knowledge Test, meaning her licence is no longer suspended.
25 August, 2021: Griffin is spotted on CCTV filling up at the Ampol. She drives off after filling up with $112 worth of fuel.
4 September, 2021: Police question attend Griffin's address and question her. Asked about traffic offences spotted by an undercover cop, Griffin says :'I can't remember'
22 July, 2022: Griffin is pulled over by cops while driving on Anzac Parade in a black Hyundai Sedan, while her licence is suspended. Asked where her licence is, she tells the officer: 'I just left work'. A check of records using her name and date of birth reveal her licence had been suspended from 24 May, 2022 - 23 August, 2022 due to two esl camera detection offences in August 2021
20 January, 2023: Griffin is pulled over by officers after being spotted driving. Police checks revealed her licence was suspended.
Maroubra Beach Hop rolls out classic, muscle cars for sick kids
The Maroubra Beach Hop Charity Car Show is back on Sunday with a big line-up of cars from Ford hot rods, to Mustangs, Corvettes and Cadillacs.
Southern Courier0 comments Andrea Handford with two classic cars ahead of the Maroubra Beach Hop Charity Car Show. picture: Flavio Brancaleone The roar of a car engine and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore at Maroubra provides the soundtrack to much of Richard Gutteridge’s life.
And he has found a way to combine these two passions with the Maroubra Beach Hop Charity Car Show.
In 2018 the first Beach Hop attracted 2,000 car enthusiasts to the Maroubra beach precinct, where 250 cars — including muscle cars, hot rods, custom, sports and vintage cars — were on show.
The event raised more than $15,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“I have been a car enthusiast all my life,” Gutteridge said.
Andrea Handford with other muscle car owners at Maroubra beach prior to the first Maroubra Beach Hop Charity Car Show last year. Picture: Bob Barker “My father built, modified and restored cars until he was too sick to do it any more but he would come outside and watch me work on the cars and give me advice.”
He said when his father, Richard Gutteridge Snr, passed away three years ago he felt the need to give back.
“I’m a passionate car guy and I thought I could use that passion for cars in a positive way,” he said.
This year’s Beach Hop at Broadarrow Reserve, opposite Maroubra beach, is on Sunday from 9.30am to 3pm.
It will be opened by former Wallaby Gary Ella.
He said the cars on show run the gamut from Toranas to 1932 Ford hot rods, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, Mustangs, and Corvettes to Jaguars, Cadillacs, trucks and custom cars.
There will also be a live band, jumping castle, DJ, plenty of food offerings and Sydney Children’s Hospital’s Foundation volunteers will be offering face painting and raffles.
