Bachelor in Paradise star Conor Canning is fighting to keep his real estate licence after stealing from a former employer and lying under oath
A former Bachelor in Paradise contestant is fighting to keep his $400,000-a-year job as a Hobart real estate agent after admitting to stealing intellectual property from a former employer and then lying about it under oath.
Conor Canning, 30, is appealing a decision by the Property Agents’ Tribunal to cancel his real estate licence.
The cancellation is on hold while the decision is reviewed, reports The Mercury.
Former Bachelor in Paradise contestant Conor Canning is fighting to keep his $400,000-a-year job as a Hobart real estate agent after admitting to stealing intellectual property from a former employer and then lying about it under oath
He was deregistered after admitting to stealing a client database worth about $800,000 a year plus other intellectual property from his former employer Ray White and taking it with him to his new workplace in 2017.
Mr Canning – who is now one of the owners of real estate agency PRD, from which he made $400,000 last year – later lied about the theft to an industry board.
He admitted in July 2020 to stealing the intellectual property, lying to the board and signing false statutory declarations, but says he deserves a second chance after the Property Agents’ Tribunal recommended he ‘take no part in the industry for a substantial period of time’.
‘I’ve got eight years’ experience in the industry; they [his new agency PRD] understand people make mistakes,’ he told Hobart Magistrates Court.
Mr Canning (pictured with his partner, Mary Viturino, on Bachelor in Paradise) is appealing a decision by the Property Agents’ Tribunal to cancel his real estate licence
Mr Canning applied to be on Bachelor in Paradise after the formal complaint about the intellectual property theft had been made, but said he didn’t believe the producers would care about such a ‘niche issue’, reports the ABC.
‘I don’t believe the show has been embarrassed,’ he said.
The court also heard the decision by the tribunal stated Mr Canning had failed to ‘recognise the seriousness of his actions’.
However, Tony Collidge, the director of PRD Hobart, said Mr Canning was responsible for 70 per cent of their income as head of the sales department and there could be significant job losses if he were to lose his licence.
The case was adjourned until August 31.
He admitted in July 2020 to stealing the intellectual property, lying to the board and signing false statutory declarations, but says he deserves a second chance after the Property Agents’ Tribunal recommended he ‘take no part in the industry for a substantial period of time’
After his day in court on Wednesday, Mr Canning shared a photo to Instagram while cradling his baby daughter and said he was ‘disappointed’ in himself.
‘Fair to say today was one of the worst days in memory. I’m sorry to anyone who is disappointed in me. Rest assured I’m disappointed in myself,’ he wrote.
‘Thank you so much to those that have reached out with messages of support it means more than you will ever know. I’ll shed a few tears tonight but rest assured too many people depend on me to give up now.’
Mr Canning met his partner, Mary Viturino, on last year’s season of Channel 10 dating show Bachelor in Paradise.
In March, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Summer.
Mr Canning is also a stepfather to Ms Viturino’s daughter from a previous relationship, Chanel.
After his day in court on Wednesday, Mr Canning shared a photo to Instagram while cradling his baby daughter and said he was ‘disappointed’ in himself