Plumber On Deception Charges
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday December 7, 2005
A PLUMBER who was sacked by his employer responded by spending the next month buying more than $20,000 worth of plumbing supplies on the employer's account, police alleged yesterday.
Christian James Graham, 32, of Flinders, appeared in Wollongong Local Court on seven counts of obtaining goods by deception. The offences were alleged to have taken place in 2002, but Graham was not charged until last Sunday, when he turned up at Wollongong Police Station to give a statement as a witness in an unrelated matter."He was unaware that there were warrants out (for his arrest)," his barrister Terry McGill told the court.According to tendered police facts, Graham had been employed by a Sydney plumbing firm in April 2002, and fired after two weeks "over the quality of work".Police alleged that seven times between May 13 and June 3, 2002, Graham visited Reece plumbing outlets in Unanderra, Wollongong, North Wollongong and Oak Flats, ordering thousands of dollars worth of supplies, collecting the goods, quoting the Sydney firm's customer number and leaving without paying.According to police, Graham had on two occasions identified himself as a different employee of the Sydney firm, who had the authority to order goods on the firm's behalf.On the final visit to the Unanderra branch of Reece, Graham had allegedly bought nearly $3000 worth of goods.Reece is seeking $24,404.64 in compensation for the seven transactions.Mr McGill said yesterday that Graham, who is on bail, was not in a position to enter any pleas "until we know what the case is about".Magistrate Robert Walker adjourned the matter to February 7.
© 2005 Illawarra Mercury