Norwood man Christopher O’Toole, Adelaide Fence Corp, plead guilty to accepting $20,000 in deposits for work that never began

A man who ran a fencing business has pleaded guilty to taking more than $20k from clients but not starting work – while charges were withdrawn against his sub-contractor.

Christopher O’Toole and his Adelaide Fence Corp have pleaded guilty to scamming clients out of their deposits and never completing the work.

A man running an Adelaide fencing business had pleaded guilty after failing to complete work for clients across the city, pocketing more than $20,000 in deposits without lifting a finger.

Christopher Richard John O’Toole, 43, of Norwood, along with Adelaide Fence Corp, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court last Friday where he admitted to several charges relating to being an unlicensed builder, failing to provide goods and services, and demanding unauthorised payment.

A second man, Richard Romano, 43, of Rostrevor – who was allegedly a sub-contractor for the business – had his charges withdrawn.

In documents filed by the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs in December 2023, it was alleged works “never began” on the demolition of old fences, construction of new ones, automated sliding gates, concrete footings and a retaining wall in North Haven, Tea Tree Gully, Ovingham, Gould Creek, and Modbury between May 2021 and March 2022.

A client at Modbury paid an $8500 deposit for new retaining walls and a fence – both of which were never completed, let alone started on. Adelaide Fence Corp allegedly demanded an unauthorised amount for the deposit at the address.

The commissioner was seeking compensation for the five affected clients – who paid deposits of between $1363 and $8500 – as part of its prosecution.

Both O’Toole and Adelaide Fence Corp have had their cases adjourned for submissions and sentencing and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court in early May.