A "serial offender" used stolen credit card details and a fraudulent driver's licence to obtain cash and tools worth more than $14,000, a court has heard.
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Bendigo resident Christopher Douglas Henderson pleaded guilty on Friday to eight counts of obtaining property by deception, attempting to obtain property by deception, making a false document to the prejudice of others, three counts of using a document to the prejudice of others, and driving while suspended.
The Bendigo Magistrates' Court heard Henderson met with private lenders to whom he owed large gambling debts.
They provided him with a list of credit card numbers and expiration dates, as well as a driver's licence in another name, and told him to purchase tools.
In May, Henderson used a computer at Bendigo Library to put his photo on the licence.
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Between May and July 2019, Henderson used the credit card details and licence to purchase tools from five different shops in the Bendigo area.
At one store he tried to purchase tools worth $3500 the day after purchasing $3900 of tools from the same store, but staff became suspicious and asked him to leave.
Henderson also used the credit card details to complete manual EFTPOS cash withdrawals at shops in Mitiamo, Taradale and Elphinstone, acquiring more than $1500.
Then in September last year, Henderson was pulled over in Stray Street and checks revealed his licence had been suspended the month before.
The court heard Henderson had also breached a community corrections order he was put on in 2017.
Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe said Henderson's father described his son as a talented cricketer who played for Melbourne Grammar and Richmond, but fell into drug use in early adulthood.
When Henderson was not using drugs, Mr Rolfe said, he was gambling.
He said Henderson had been assaulted over his gambling debt and thought the people he owed would harass his family.
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Mr Rolfe said his client had young children and strong family support, and asked magistrate Megan Aumair to consider a community corrections order.
But police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Somerton said Henderson was put on the corrections order for the same sort of offending.
Sergeant Somerton said it was serious offending and imprisonment was warranted.
The tools had not been recovered and Henderson had not given police details of those who gave him the credit card details, he said, although this was contested by the defence.
Ms Aumair told Henderson he was given an opportunity to address his issues with his last community corrections order, but had not.
"You are a serial offender and you deserve, on this occasion, a term of imprisonment," Ms Aumair said, adding that it was not in the community's interest for him to be placed on a corrections order alone.
Ms Aumair sentenced Henderson to three months' imprisonment, to be followed by a 12-month corrections order with drug treatment and offender behaviour programs.
But Henderson was granted bail while awaiting an appeal against the sentence.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
