Former soccer star and seafood heir Sarantis Parissos has been sentenced to six years in jail for a series of shocking offences that left two police officers injured and one questioning her future in the force.
The 41-year-old, who once played for Adelaide Olympic and professionally in Greece, faced the South Australian District Court for two separate incidents involving police in 2021 and 2022.
In January 2022, Parissos was spotted speeding in a black Range Rover along Sir Donald Bradman Drive in Adelaide.
Police, supported by PolAir, tracked the car through Fulham Gardens and attempted to apprehend him on Merlin Road.
As officers approached, Parissos reversed the vehicle, dragging a female police officer several metres down the road before fleeing the scene.
He dumped the car near Grange Road and attempted to escape on foot but was struck by an oncoming car after running into traffic.
Sarantis Parissos (pictured) has been jailed over violent clashes with police in South Australia
Once a promising footballer, Parissos’s life spiralled into chaos marked by dangerous run-ins with law enforcement
He suffered a broken neck, while the female officer was also hospitalised with injuries.
In a victim impact statement, the officer said the incident left her physically and mentally traumatised.
She described 2022 as ‘the worst year of my life’ and said she had been left ‘frozen in pain’ by the ordeal.
‘I try my best to enjoy my job, but I don’t think I can remain as a police officer due to the trauma of this incident,’ she said.
‘My health is worth more than being treated like a speed bump.’
The hit-and-run was not an isolated incident. Just one month earlier, in December 2021, Parissos stole a police car during a separate confrontation in Broadview.
Bodycam footage shows officers attempting to detain him when he ran towards their patrol vehicle.
Despite urgent commands to stop, Parissos jumped into the car and drove away with a female passenger.
The court heard how Parissos (pictured with his brother and late sister) endangered lives during two separate and highly publicised police incidents
Parissos worked with his brother at the highly successful Parissos Seafood in Adelaide, but the business was sold in 2024
Officers involved described ongoing trauma after confronting Parissos during his reckless and aggressive attempts to flee
A female officer frantically radioed for help, reporting the vehicle had been taken and was heading east with sirens activated.
Moments later, both officers were flung from the stolen vehicle. A male officer was thrown 10 metres, dislocating his shoulder.
He later said he feared for his life, believing he could have been ‘flung across a main road at speed.’
Parissos was eventually arrested and charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving, hindering police and causing harm. He pleaded guilty to all charges.
His defence lawyer, Tim Clarke, told the court Parissos had been using drugs at the time and acknowledged his ‘catastrophically bad’ decisions.
The court heard that Parissos had written apology letters to the injured officers.
He had previously worked for his family’s seafood business, Parissos Seafoods, which has since been sold to Silver Bay Seafoods on November 12, 2024.
Parissos is also a father and had shown early promise as a footballer before injury cut short his sporting career.
The judge’s comments noted his complete disregard for public safety and the wellbeing of officers involved.
One of the incidents saw Parissos crash into a stationary police vehicle before fleeing on foot. The events unfolded in full view of bystanders and were later widely shared via media coverage.
The court acknowledged that while Parissos had shown remorse, the impact on the victims was long-lasting.
The female officer injured in the January 2022 incident continues to suffer both physically and psychologically.
The male officer injured during the stolen patrol car incident described ongoing complications and anxiety.
