Kailob Alan Porter in court for fraud, driving offences

A Bundaberg father living out of his car conned at least 12 people into buying an iphone from him that never existed. But that was not all.

Twelve days after being dealt with for a fraud offence in Bundaberg Magistrates Court, young father Kailob Alan Porter was back at it, selling a “phone” online to multiple victims who never got what they paid for.

Appearing in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, Porter pleaded guilty to 23 charges in total, including 15 charges of fraud (dishonestly obtain property from another) and eight driving offences, namely driving without a licence (disqualified by a court order), driving an uninsured vehicle, driving without a licence (disqualified by a court order - repeat offender), driving a car with cancelled number plates, driving unregistered, two counts of driving without a licence (disqualified by court order) and one of disobeying the speed limit.

Police prosecutor Andrew Powis told the court Porter’s offending, carried out between December 2021 and April 2022, was “deliberate and planned”.

Snr Const Powis called for Porter’s victims to be compensated with restitution, a total amount of $5575.

Porter’s lawyer Gavin James told the court his client had been left homeless after his family moved to New South Wales, and that his fraudulent actions were a means of survival while he lived in his car.

Twelve days after being dealt with for a fraud offence in Bundaberg Magistrates Court, young father Kailob Alan Porter was back at it, selling a “phone” online to multiple victims who never got what they paid for.

He said that when all the matters were dealt with, Porter intended to move to NSW to stay with his family.

Magistrate John McInnes acknowledged that Porter’s offending was largely to do with being homeless, and that his driving offences had largely stemmed from having to live in his car.

For all but one of his charges of fraud, Porter was placed on 12 months’ probation with no convictions recorded.

For his most recent disqualified driving charge, he was sentenced to three months’ prison, suspended for 12 months.

For each disqualification offence, Porter was disqualified from driving for two years.

For his other driving offences, he was convicted but not further punished.

Convictions were recorded for his driving offences.

He must pay $5575 in restitution to his victims, referred to SPER.

Porter must also forfeit a recogniscence sum imposed for prior offending on December 17, 2021, to be referred to SPER.