Jeffrey Michael Moretto: Warwick man fronts court after dodging bankruptcy claims

A dad who went bankrupt and dodged the authorities for several months claims to have copped huge amounts of online backlash on top of a whopping fine, including a ‘wanted’ poster with his face on it.

A man who went bankrupt and dodged the authorities for several months before damaging a couple’s caravan in a violent temper has copped a hefty fine in the Warwick court.

Jeffrey Michael Moretto’s horse float and trailer business was declared bankrupt in March, 2019, and following its liquidation was then required to provide a series of financial documents by 2021.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard that despite several warnings that not filing the required forms could result in criminal charges, the 29-year-old failed to meet his deadline and then ignored a number of follow-up notices between August and October last year.

Moretto claimed at the time that he was waiting for an accountant and eventually filed the paperwork earlier this year, but he had already been charged over the long-running evasion.

The father of three had yet another brush with the law on February 2, when he got into a heated argument with a couple working for his in-laws at the time.

The Warwick court was told the victims had just returned from a 10-day work trip delivering puppies in Melbourne and claimed they had not received money for their expenses or overdue wages, and refused to hand over the keys to the transporter vehicle until they were paid what they were owed.

Moretto flew into a rage and punched out both mirrors on the couple’s caravan, shattering the glass and causing $905 in damage.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said her client had no criminal history and was a former champion bull rider, who returned to Australia after competing in the US to start his family and business.

She said Moretto described that part of his life as “very messy” and remained bankrupt today, more than three years after the original declaration.

“The context around the offending is he had moved to Melbourne to find work and then he moved back to Warwick, and it seemed fairly disorganised and he didn’t get the documents where they needed to be at the time,” Ms Hine said.

“He has been absolutely vilified on social media, and at one point someone posted a police ‘wanted’ poster on social media and that was shared almost 3000 times.

“There’s also been a number of rumours that have circulated, including that he had buried money and other quite ridiculous things.”

She said Moretto also claimed to have lost money from a puppy sale to the couple targeted in the second offence.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess described the process of getting Moretto to comply with the law as “long and torturous” for all those involved, and that the online backlash from people he and his business owed money to would be a significant punishment on top of a hefty fine.

Moretto pleaded guilty to one count each of failing to comply with a notice and wilful damage.

He was fined $1905.35 and must pay $1500 within six months or serve 15 days’ jail by default.

He was also ordered to pay full restitution. No criminal conviction was recorded.