Peter Mark Dunham, owner of Sir Donald Bradman cap, pleads guilty to theft and deception
A former accountant has pleaded guilty to ripping off victims. Creditors are trying to recoup some of the money – most notably by reclaiming and selling Sir Donald Bradman’s cap.
Police & Courts
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A former high-flying Adelaide accountant, whose rare Sir Donald Bradman cap is sought to repay a multimillion-dollar debt, is facing jail after admitting he ripped off victims.
Peter Mark Dunham, 73, “abused a position of trust” to steal, or deceive, victims and a national not-for-profit sports body, out of more than $1.2 million over five years.
On Monday as his District Court trial was due to start, the former chartered accountant, a grandfather and father of two, changed his plea to guilty.
Dunham admitted nine theft and deception charges between August 2008 and July 2015. Some counts are aggravated because he “abused a position of trust”.
Dunham stole amounts between $50,000 and $322,000. His victims include the Australian Masters Athletics, of which he was treasurer for a decade.
Detectives had charged him with 37 offences totalling more than $2.92 million but some were dropped in a plea deal.
The court heard “substantial sums” had been repaid.
Dunham, formerly of Kensington but now residing in a Glenelg apartment owned by his son’s firm, stood expressionless in the dock.
Judge Paul Muscat remanded him on bail to face a pre-sentence hearing next month.
Creditors have been fighting to recoup millions of dollars after he declared himself bankrupt in August 2016.
Among his assets is a rare Sir Donald Bradman “baggy green” cap, worn by the Don on his Test debut and conservatively valued at $150,000.
Auditors had wanted to sell it but it remains on loan to the State Library.
Dunham refused to comment outside court.