Bachelor in Paradise: Conor Canning loses real estate licence, fined $30,000

A high-flying Hobart real estate agent who found love on dating show Bachelor in Paradise has lost his real estate licence after a tribunal ruled he was ‘not an honest person’.

Conor Canning, 30, had been deregistered by the Property Agents Tribunal last year after stealing a client database from a former employer and then lying about it under oath, but sought to appeal the decision in June.

The tribunal’s decision was upheld by the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with Magistrate Chris Webster saying: ‘[Mr Canning] demonstrated by his actions… that he is not an honest person.’

Deregistered: Conor Canning, (pictured), a high-flying Hobart real estate agent who found love on dating show Bachelor in Paradise, has lost his real estate licence after a tribunal ruled he was ‘not an honest person’ 

‘There are many opportunities for a dishonest person working in this industry to gain a financial advantage for themselves or their clients by making a false declaration or misrepresentation or to financially disadvantage others,’ Mr Webster added, according to ABC Hobart.

‘It is particularly important that a dishonest person is not employed in that industry.’

The magistrate concluded Mr Canning was ‘not a fit and proper person to practise in the real estate industry’ and ruled he could not be readmitted out of a ‘need to protect the public’.

Mr Canning had in June fought to keep his $400,000-a-year job as a real estate agent by taking the tribunal’s ruling to court. 

The cancellation of his licence was put on hold while the decision was reviewed, allowing him to practise in the meantime, The Mercury reported.

Banned: Mr Canning, 30, had been deregistered by the Property Agents Tribunal last year after stealing a client database from a former employer and then lying about it under oath, but sought to appeal the decision in June

Banned: Mr Canning, 30, had been deregistered by the Property Agents Tribunal last year after stealing a client database from a former employer and then lying about it under oath, but sought to appeal the decision in June

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, the director 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 tried to argue he deserved 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 previously told Hobart Magistrates Court. 

Upheld: The tribunal's decision was upheld by the Hobart Magistrates Court, with Magistrate Chris Webster saying: '[Mr Canning] demonstrated by his actions… that he is not an honest person.' Mr Canning is pictured with his partner, Mary Viturino, on Bachelor in Paradise

Upheld: The tribunal’s decision was upheld by the Hobart Magistrates Court, with Magistrate Chris Webster saying: ‘[Mr Canning] demonstrated by his actions… that he is not an honest person.’ Mr Canning is pictured with his partner, Mary Viturino, on Bachelor in Paradise

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’, the ABC reported in June.

‘I don’t believe the show has been embarrassed,’ he added.

The court also heard at the time 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. 

Regret: After his day in court in early June, Mr Canning shared a photo to Instagram while cradling his baby daughter and said he was 'disappointed' in himself

Regret: After his day in court in early June, Mr Canning shared a photo to Instagram while cradling his baby daughter and said he was ‘disappointed’ in himself

After his day in court in early June, 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.

Love story: Mr Canning met his partner, Mary Viturino, on last year's season of Bachelor in Paradise. In March, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Summer

Love story: Mr Canning met his partner, Mary Viturino, on last year’s season of Bachelor in Paradise. In March, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Summer

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