Raymond Neil Pinnington pleads not guilty to dishonestly taking property without consent

A Dudley Park man who allegedly targeted the elderly for more than a year with a nasty scam will face trial later this year.

A Dudley Park man police claim is responsible for a “Good Samaritan” scam that swept parts of Adelaide – allegedly targeting 14 different people and stealing more than $20,000 in cash and goods – will face trial.

Raymond Neil Pinnington did not appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday due to returning a positive Covid test.

In his absence, the court set a trial date in September after Mr Pinnington’s defence counsel entered not guilty pleas to a number of dishonesty taking property without consent charges.

Gloria Roberts had her handbag stolen in an elaborate flat tyre scam at Sefton Plaza. Picture: Supplied

Police allege Mr Pinnington targeted elderly victims for more than a year, letting their car tyres down before offering to help.

He then allegedly offered to help change the tyre.

The result, police allege, would see Mr Pinnington, 40, come away with bank cards and details of his alleged victims which he would then use to “commit fraudulent transactions”.

Mr Pinnington is also facing a litany of charges including more counts of dishonestly dealing with property without consent, and interfering with a motor vehicle.

According to court documents, Mr Pinnington’s alleged crime spree started in August 2021 and continued across the west and north of Adelaide until January 25.

During that time, the documents allege, he carried out 11 deceptions, six fuel thefts, robbed Bunnings three times, and carried out a brazen beer heist in which he stole 15 kegs of beer from the Parafield Gardens Community Club.

According to the documents, Mr Pinnington allegedly stole a combined $20,076.15 and had 14 different victims spanning from Angle Vale to Ashford and including Cavan, Bolivar, Kilburn, Croydon, Prospect, Gepps Cross and Parafield Gardens.

The documents allege one of the men embroiled in the alleged crime spree was ripped off $4700 after being deceived by Mr Pinnington, while another had more than $2000 taken in three transactions.

Mr Pinnington’s January arrest came just days after The Advertiser revealed Gloria Roberts had fallen to a scam at the Sefton Plaza shopping centre.

Mrs Roberts’s daughter Kylie said her 73-year-old mother had been left shaken by the experience, and upon arriving home had realised her tyre’s nuts were not even tightened.

“It puts mum’s life at risk,” she said.