Dodgy tiler sentenced after scamming more than $35k from clients to ‘chase’ gambling losses

A 40-year-old tradie has learned his fate after he scammed more than $35k from clients – including a 65-year-old widow – and used the money to “chase” his gambling losses.

Nikola Necic pleaded guilty to two counts each of deception and failing to provide goods and services within a reasonable time

A 40-year-old tradie has avoided jail time after he scammed more than $35k from vulnerable clients and used the money to “chase” his gambling losses.

Nikola Necic was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with a non-parole period of seven months – suspended upon entering into a two-year good behaviour bond to the amount of $200.

Necic appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday in front of Magistrate Oliver Koehn, who also ordered the father of two to undertake 270 hours of community service, as well as to pay compensation to his three victims.

A court heard Necic told one of his victims – a 65-year-old widow – that his business partner had “withdrawn from his business account”, which meant he didn’t have enough funds to continue – before asking the woman for a loan to complete works on her bathroom.

“You asked her to loan you $10,000 and then offered to pay her back with interest over 12 months by monthly payments of $890.83,” Mr Koehn said.

Nikola Necic leaving court after pleading guilty.

“The representations made about your business partner withdrawing moneys from your business account were untrue. The bulk of the money had gone but it was spent by you, mostly on online gambling.

“You did not use the $10,000 to complete the bathroom. You never refunded the money and you never paid any of the agreed repayments.

“You used moneys paid by the victims to gamble and chase your losses, and to pay other debts and expenses.”

In February, Necic pleaded guilty to two counts each of failing to provide goods and services within a reasonable time, and deceiving another to benefit himself.

Court documents released to The Advertiser revealed the extent of Necic’s offending in which he scammed $17,979 from a Vietnamese couple with poor English skills as well as $20,676 from a 65-year-old widow.

During sentencing submissions earlier this month, the widow who hired Necic to renovate her Marino home told the court in her victim impact statement she was left “broken emotionally”.

“I contacted Nikola Necic to renovate my only bathroom because he was specifically recommended to me by Beaumont Tiles. Unfortunately for me, this meant that if I had any suspicions about his honesty, I dismissed them,” she said.

Nikola Necic leaving court after pleading guilty.

“As a result, I suffered emotionally and financially from the anxiety and stress of the situation. I felt as though I was caught up in a blackmail situation because if I didn’t pay up, the bathroom would not be finished and I would also forfeit any hope of the funds being returned to me.

“I definitely don’t trust people now like I did before. When the project was abandoned with no communication whatsoever, I was devastated. I was broken emotionally. I felt stupid and gullible for allowing this to occur.”

While Necic’s counsel told the court he had been unable to pay any compensation to his victims yet, Mr Koehn noted that he was “willing” and accepted his remorse – allowing him 28 days to either pay the due amounts or to contact the fine enforcement and recovery unit.