A high-profile fashion designer has pleaded guilty after being caught placing a tracking device on a woman’s car.
The co-founder and designer of defunct clothing brand Satch, Jim Sachinidis, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Thursday accused of harassment.
The court heard the 53-year-old had used a stolen remote key to enter a woman’s garage in Elwood before searching and “tampering” with her car.
Sachinidis spent about 15 minutes under the vehicle, during which time he is believed to have placed a tracking device.
He was arrested on May 2 and denied the charge, arguing “that’s not me” when confronted by police with CCTV footage.
“A lot of people have beards,” he told police. Herald of the sun reports.
The court heard Sachinidis’ offending had been increasing since 2022 after the collapse of a business led to drug use.
At the time of the harassment charge, Sachinidis was said to be homeless and using methamphetamines.
The co-founder of defunct clothing brand Satch, Jim Sachinidis (pictured), has pleaded guilty to stalking a woman after placing a tracking device under her car.
He will be assessed for a community corrections order and will return to court on Friday for sentencing, having already spent 54 days in custody.
Sachinidis had previously been described as an “incredibly successful” and “high-flying” businessman after co-founding unisex clothing brand Satch in 1996.
The company had grown to operate 14 boutique stores in major Australian cities and was turning over around $10 million a year.
Satch suffered a crisis in 2009, when sales plummeted by more than 35 percent. In 2011, the company was placed into liquidation owing more than $7.4 million.
Stephen Dixon of BDO Partners said at the time that Satch’s situation was due to falling sales, high costs, incorrect inventory and poor accounting in a difficult retail environment.
“The directors believe the company’s internal reporting was inadequate and also identified that director retirements were at excessive levels given the company’s poor trading performance and position,” Dixon said. The Australian.
The court heard Sachinidis told police “that’s not me” and that “a lot of people have beards” when confronted with CCTV footage after being arrested in May.
