SA court tells $1.5m fraudster Christopher Lloyd George to explain himself to his victims or risk the longest possible sentence

He admits stealing $1.5 million from retirees but won’t say why – and a judge has warned that continued silence will see this fraudster serve the longest sentence possible.

Superannuation scammer Christopher Lloyd George outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Sean Fewster.

A judge has ordered an international, $1.5 million superannuation scammer to explain himself to his victims – or else she will impose the “longest possible sentence” allowed by law.

Christopher Lloyd George faced the District Court on Thursday ahead of his sentencing for four counts of aggravated deception – which carries a maximum 15-year jail term.

However his counsel, Edward Stratton-Smith, said he had no submissions to make on his client’s behalf.

“Your Honour can see, on the evidence, what happened to the money … a lot of it was simply spent on day-to-day living … I cannot give an adequate explanation for the offending,” he said.

The paucity of information was poorly received by Judge Geraldine Davison.

“I don’t accept that … I expect an explanation, and I expect to be told something about the factual circumstances of this offending,” she said.

“These three (victim) families deserve some explanation – it may not be a good one, but they deserve it – and it might be your client has to give evidence if it’s not forthcoming.

“If not, he can expect he will be sentenced with no factors of mitigation and, notionally, with the longest possible sentence that I can impose consistent with the facts of the case.”

District Court Judge Geraldine Davison.

George was arrested in January 2020. Picture: 10 News First.

Acting as an investment manager, George, 33, of One Tree Hill, stole his clients’ money then tricked them into providing more so he could “travel the world” and recoup their funds.

He continued his scam even after his arrest, contacting his victims from custody and trying to dissuade them from giving evidence.

On Thursday, the court heard victim impact statements written by the duped families.

Each said they were tricked by George’s promises of “great returns” and now had to work into their 70s in order to have any chance of living above the poverty line.

The first victim broke down and wept as he recounted his “shame and embarrassment” in having believed George, saying the financial strain nearly ended his marriage.

The second said his wife had divorced him and his children no longer spoke to him after he gave the family’s $718,700 life savings to George.

The third victim said George’s “calculated and callous manner” had “played havoc” with his family’s legacy, leaving the family “haemorrhaging financially”.

“Your actions are, without a doubt, nothing short of pure evil,” he said.

Judge Davison granted Mr Stratton-Smith an adjournment to speak to his client and get an explanation for his actions.

Following that adjournment, however, Mr Stratton-Smith told the court he could no longer act for George, citing a “conflict of interest”.

Judge Davison granted him permission to cease acting for George, who she remanded in custody to face court again in June.