Father swindles three businesses out of thousands

He cheated them out of tools, a motorcycle, a kid’s quad bike and a trailer – all to prove his worth as a father.

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IN A desperate move to prove his worth a father swindled three Mackay businesses out of more than $24,500 during a shady spending spree.

Now, more than two years and 17 court appearances later, the 30-year-old tradie will spend Christmas in jail.

Dayne James O'Keefe cheated Snap Tools Mackay out of $15,519 in tools.

He also went to Mackay Kawasaki and claimed a motorcycle and kid's quad bike worth $6800, and a $2230 trailer from Mackay Trailers.

Mackay Magistrates Court was told it was a misguided attempt to step up for his family after breaking up with his partner.

O'Keefe pleaded guilty to fraud and now will spend the next three months of an 18-month jail term behind bars.

It is the second time O'Keefe has faced court for fraud, having previously been sentenced in Townsville.

Solicitor Antoinette Morton, who appeared as a friend of the court for O'Keefe, said he had suffered from severe mental health issues.

She said after the breakdown of his relationship in 2017, O'Keefe's long-term mental health issues had deteriorated.

"It wasn't particularly sophisticated (offending)," she said, adding part of his reasoning was to keep his family financially stable.

"It was in an attempt to return to that relationship."

Prosecutor Robert Beamish argued there was not enough evidence to support O'Keefe had a longstanding mental health issue.

However, magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan took O'Keefe's mental health history into account, but said she also had to consider how much of the court's time had been wasted.

Ms Hartigan said the diesel fitter needed to be deterred from offending again. The remaining 15 months would "hang over his head" for two years.

"This is the second time you've come before the court for serious fraud matters," Mrs Hartigan said.

"Even though I accept you are and were suffering from a mental health issue at the time of this offending, that doesn't mean personal deterrence isn't required for you."

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