Brian Glen Rick Wolski jailed for fraud, stealing

There were emotional scenes in a Sunshine Coast courtroom as a former mechanic hung his head low while details of how he defrauded several people out of nearly $20,000 were shared.

There were emotional scenes in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 14, as the court heard details on how Brian Glen Rick Wolski swindled various people out of thousands online.

A Caboolture man sobbed as he was sentenced to jail after he defrauded multiple people out of almost $20,000, and used their identities to open various bank accounts.

There were emotional scenes in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 14, as the court heard details on how Brian Glen Rick Wolski, 29, swindled various people out of thousands online.

The court was told Wolski, who appeared via Videolink, was supported by his sister in the public gallery.

He was often seen with his head hung low on the screen.

The court was told Wolski took $19,911 in deposits from various people after advertising non-existent cars for sale on Facebook.

He then used the identities of his victims, who paid deposits between $50 and $2500, to open bank accounts.

Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden said his client, a former mechanic, had a gambling addiction, was homeless, drug reliant and abusing alcohol at the time of the offences.

Prior to the offending, Wolski had been working with cars, he said.

He said Wolski’s offending came from desperation, and while he managed to use some of the money to support himself, he was surrounded by people who were willing to take advantage of his actions.

“He said if he was to stop (it) resulted in threats to either be ostracised, have the police called on him, belted, things of that nature,” he said.

He said in Wolski’s sister’s affidavit, which was tendered to the court, she described them as “parasites”.

Wolski was seen sobbing as his sentence was handed down, while his sister wiped away tears.

He pleaded guilty to 66 charges, including 45 fraud charges, three attempted fraud charges, four charges of obtaining or dealing with another person’s identity to commit a crime, three failing to appear, breach of bail, obstruct police, possessing tainted property, possessing utensils, two charges of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, two charges of stealing, enter premises and commit indictable offence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist sentenced Wolski to 16 months jail, with a parole release date of December 16, 2022.

The 55 days he spent in presentence custody was declared time served.

A conviction was recorded.