Andrew Walker: PT conned $30,000 out of innocent victims

The Brisbane father executed a “sophisticated” ruse to con people out of thousands. He has now been handed jail time.

A Brisbane con-artist and personal trainer looking down the barrel of serious jail time has heard his fate after defrauding $30,000 from 10 victims.

Gambling addict and ex-Navy recruit Andrew James Walker pleaded guilty to 16 fraud charges including 11 counts of dishonestly gaining property from another and three counts of obtaining or dealing with another entity’s identification for the purpose of committing or facilitating the commission of an indictable offence.

The court heard the con artist had promised several people work and squeezed money from them, with the most notable scam being $9000 from an unsuspecting woman.

The court heard Walker, 30, had carried out “sophisticated and prolonged” schemes, targeting a total of 10 victims.

According to court records the offences were carried out in North Lakes.

Andrew James Walker. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Walker, a father to a baby girl, had no criminal history but faced deportation to his home country of New Zealand if he served any time in custody.

Prior to moving to Australia, Walker had been a member of the New Zealand Navy between 2009 and 2012 and had then moved to Perth to work in the mining industry.

He also worked in the construction industry and as a personal trainer, however a rotator cuff industry had affected his ability to work in some professions.

The court heard Walker had so far saved $2000 towards restitution to his victims.

A letter of apology from Walker was tendered to the court, along with character references which portrayed him as “dependable and hardworking”.

However Magistrate Rob Turra said the offences were “serious”.

“Sixteen fraud offences that amount to over $30,000-worth of money that was defrauded from people,” Magistrate Turra said.

“These offences incorporated real victims,” the magistrate said.

“These people were seeking employment and would have been devastated, having laid out their hard-earned money, only to be (defrauded by you).

“You went back for more once you got somebody on the hook.”

Walker was sentenced to 18 months jail on each charge, immediately suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay $30,350 in restitution.