Adam Bruce Clulow faces Mackay court over fraud charges at Christmas

It was leading up to the silly season when the fake bank card was ‘dropped in the lap’ of a Mackay single father who splashed $7000 on his daughters.

A Mackay father-of-two caved under pressure spending almost $7000 in four days with a fake bank card in the lead up to Christmas.

Adam Bruce Clulow appeared in Mackay district court for sentencing on August 5 after pleading guilty to one charge of fraud and one charge of receiving tainted property.

The court heard Clulow was receiving Centrelink payments in November 2020 when he was discussing his financial difficulties with his former partner’s brother.

Adam Bruce Clulow plead guilty to fraud and receiving tainted property after spending almost $7000 in four days with a fake bank card in the lead up to Christmas. Picture: Contributed

The court heard the single father-of-two had lost his job as skipper for an Airlie Beach fishing charter company in December 2019 because of Covid-19.

When his former partner’s brother offered him the fake bank card and PIN number right before Christmas, Clulow took it – going on a four-day shopping spree spending a total of $6872.89.

The court heard the skipper had used the card to buy “laptops and speakers” among other “non-essential” goods.

Acting Magistrate John Aberdeen acknowledged the father been the sole provider for his two daughters for the past 10 years, “effectively raising them” alone.

Mr Aberdeen said the property bought with the bank card appeared to be mostly for the benefit of Clulow’s daughters, but acknowledged it was not done out of necessity.

“I accept quite a bit of property was bought as presents,” Mr Aberdeen said.

“I can well understand having this drop in your lap got the better of you, especially given the type of year it was and the time of year.”

In sentencing, Mr Aberdeen took into consideration the effect a community service order would have on Clulow’s daughters.

Instead Mr Aberdeen ordered he serve 18 months probation and pay $6872.89 restitution to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

No conviction was recorded.