Michael Pershouse, Samantha Neideck sentenced for $150K fraud

An ice-addicted southeast Queensland couple purchased cars, laptops, jewellery and other items using a chequebook stolen from an ex-husband.

An ice-addicted southeast Queensland couple used a chequebook stolen from one of their ex’s to go on a $150,000 spending spree, purchasing vehicles, laptops, jewellery and more.

Newtown pair Michael William Pershouse and Samantha Shellie Neideck, both 34, each pleaded guilty to three fraud offences.

Both pleaded guilty to fraud by way of dishonestly inducing delivery of property worth more than $100,000 and an additional, lesser fraud, while Neideck pleaded guilty to a third fraud and Pershouse to an attempted fraud.

All offences occurred between August 26 and September 20 last year, predominantly at Toowoomba City.

The conduct consisted of Neideck stealing her ex-husband’s chequebook and she and Pershouse going on a spending spree, paying for goods and vehicles using cheques which would ultimately bounce after they had made away with their booty.

Newtown fraudster Michael William Pershouse, 34. Picture: Facebook

They purchased two rings, a watch, a laptop, UHF radios, collectable $100 bank notes, a motorcycle, a Toyota HiLux, a Holden Insignia, and a Nissan GTR.

The total value of the frauds perpetrated was $149,026, with Pershouse alone responsible for an attempted fraudulent purchase of an additional vehicle at Morayfield worth $24,000.

The court heard Pershouse is a serial fraudster who was on parole at the time of the current offending for similar offences for which he was sentenced in the Toowoomba District Court in May 2019.

There is a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria, where he is wanted in relation to an incident in which he was so drug-affected he fell asleep behind the wheel and caused an accident which nearly claimed several lives.

Newtown fraudster Samantha Shellie Neideck, 34. Picture: Facebook

The accident left Pershouse himself unable to urinate without the assistance of a catheter, the court heard.

The court heard it was likely Pershouse would be extradited to Victoria following the conclusion of his current sentence.

Neideck, meanwhile, was a “fragile and submissive” woman who was nevertheless a loving mother and hard worker, the court heard.

Neideck, who had no prior criminal history, fell into intravenous drug use after striking up a relationship with Pershouse, which led to her involvement in the dishonest spree.

Pershouse was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment, suspended after serving 18 months (he has already spent about 14 months remanded in pre-sentence custody) for an operational period of five years.

Neideck was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.