2025-10-08T14:09:59Z

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Imagine a high-flying businessman, once celebrated in elite circles, now facing a devastating criminal conviction and a scandal tearing apart friendships in the lavish world of Sydney's upper crust. Nicholas 'Nic' Stavropoulos is that man, recently convicted of raping a woman in a Greek nightclub, and his story is sending shockwaves through the community.

After a Greek court found him guilty of this horrific crime during a holiday linked to the prestigious Kambala Girls School, Stavropoulos, 50, is currently appealing his conviction while living freely in Point Piper, one of Sydney's most affluent neighborhoods. This case, which took place back in 2016, has not only affected the victim but also left a mark on Sydney's tightly knit social fabric.

The alarming details of the case have surfaced, revealing that the attack occurred in a bathroom at a nightclub in Mykonos. Following his conviction in May, the court sentenced Stavropoulos to six years in prison. However, he wasted no time launching an appeal and remains on bail in Australia, awaiting a retrial in Greece.

NSW Police are closely monitoring the situation and have initiated procedures to secure a court-ordered apprehended violence order (AVO) to protect the victim. Meanwhile, the woman has filed a civil case for damages in the NSW District Court, seeking compensation for her mental health treatment and legal costs, with proceedings set to resume on October 16 after a lengthy pause.

Stavropoulos's life has taken a remarkable turn since his conviction. Once heralded as a promising figure in the travel industry for co-founding the billion-dollar company Excite Holidays in 2002, he bore the brunt of a disastrous collapse in 2020 that left creditors high and dry to the tune of $35 million. Amid the fallout, he faced backlash for his extravagant lifestyle, which continued to raise eyebrows even as the company fell apart.

In a bizarre twist of fate, shortly before his conviction, Stavropoulos hosted a lavish masked ball costing over $100,000 for his then-wife Litsa’s 50th birthday, attended by Sydney's elite. The marriage ended earlier this year, adding fuel to the fire of scandals plaguing his reputation. Now, he is dating Litsa’s former best friend, Pembe Bekir, stirring further discord among their social circles.

As the fallout from this case continues, it echoes past high-society scandals that have rocked Sydney. The community is now visibly fractured, with many rallying around Litsa, who has been a beloved figure in the social scene. With the AVO matter set to be heard at Waverley Local Court, this ongoing saga is a stark reminder that behind closed doors, the glitzy facade of high society can hide dark and troubling truths.