Peter Fazackerley fronts Brisbane court on charges of fraud, forgery

An Ipswich man accused of forging a bank guarantee so he would be paid $111,000 has told a court he did so with good intentions.

Peter William John Fazackerley, 44, of Brookwater faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 15.

An Ipswich man accused of forging a bank document has told a court he did so to “prop (his) company up” and pay his employees during a difficult time as they faced Covid-19 and Christmas-related stresses.

Peter William John Fazackerley, 44, of Brookwater faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 15 intending to plead guilty to one count each of forgery and uttering, fraud, and uttering a forged document.

The court heard the charges related to him forging and uttering a bank guarantee that would generate and pay him $111,000 in June, 2020.

Mr Fazackerley allegedly intended to use the money to pay his employees at a time when his business was struggling and they were facing Covid-19 and Christmas-related stresses.

Defence lawyer Dominic Brunello said the alleged offending came after Mr Fazackerley learned his father had embezzled $1 million from his company, propelling it into a “dire” financial position.

The court was not told whether Mr Fazackerley’s father has been charged with embezzling funds.

“He believed … that future contracts which would be realised into the New Year, 2021, would allow him to restore the finances of the company,” Mr Brunello said.

“His error of judgment was obviously forging that document, and uttering it, to get money to cover and prop the company up until he believed he could … pull himself out of the hole.”

Mr Brunello said his client’s plan was to pull the company out of debt then continue operations.

He told the court Mr Fazackerley had no prior convictions and was, except for his alleged offending, a person of good character.

Believing the accused could receive a penalty of more than three years’ imprisonment, Deputy Chief Magistrate Anthony Gett decided the matter should proceed in a higher court.

The matter was adjourned to November 21 for mention.