Siblings staged iPhone scam
A BROTHER-and-sister team used false documents to buy iPhones and pawn them for more than $15,000 profit, a court was told.
Timothy Albert Cuthbertson, 26, and his sister, who hasn't been caught, had prior convictions for dishonesty in almost every state in Australia. The brother pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday to 11 counts of fraud.
Prosecutor Constable David Thiel said the offending was sophisticated and deliberate, where Cuthbertson would use false documents relating to private companies to buy iPhones to hock.
"He has previous for this type of offending and has received prison sentences before. He has previously been dealt with for over 100 charges of fraud," Const Thiel said.
"The quantum ($15,000) is significant and (only) some of the restitution has been paid.
"He deliberately used the cover of private corporations to cover his tracks and explain away large amounts of property."
Defence lawyer Yassar Khan said the offending was not sophisticated as there was no denying his client was going to get caught.
"He provided his actual licence which aroused suspicions - he was always going to get caught," Mr Khan said.
"It was all done in company with his sister who is still wanted. She has absconded from the jurisdiction.
"She gave him the items and he pawned them at Cash Converters."
Cuthbertson was sentenced to two years in prison, to be suspended after six months.
