Vailala Taniela pleads guilty to Bunnings and personal fraud

A 38-year-old scammer and father of three has pleaded guilty to more than 30 fraud charges stemming from an “unsophisticated” Bunnings scam.

A father of three has faced more than 30 charges of fraud after he was busted rorting a major hardware chain and using a stolen credit card at a sports club.

Kallangur man Vailala Taniela, 38, pleaded guilty in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court to 32 counts of fraud by dishonestly obtaining property from another, as well as one count of breach of bail condition and failure to appear.

The court heard Taniela’s scheme began at Bunnings in Morayfield before branching out to other chain stores in Glendale, Carseldine, Brendale, North Lakes and Rothwell.

The court heard the offending took place from April 28 to May 18 this year.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Turner told the court Taniela committed personal frauds, with nine charges relating to other instances in the Morayfield area.

It’s understood Taniela used a credit card taken from a purse at various locations including Morayfield Sports Club and Morayfield Shopping Centre.

Taniela then failed to surrender into custody on June 21.

The 38-year-old ‘s lawyer Andrew Stewart from Stewart, Burr and Mayr Lawyers said Taniela accepted there were a “relatively large number” of charges before the court.

“It’s a relatively unsophisticated set of offences,” Mr Stewart said.

“His difficulty was at the time that he wasn’t receiving any centrelink, he had just come out of a 17-year relationship with his partner.

“He lost his employment and was effectively homeless at the time.”

Mr Stewart said his client’s motive for the fraud was to support both himself and his three children.

“In relation to the fail to appear and the breach of bail both matters occurred when it slipped his mind,” he said.

“He accepts he should of come to court and should have dealt with his bail accordingly.

“His history is perhaps not the lengthiest that’s come before the courts but I accept that there are similar offences on his history.”

The court also heard there has been a significant gap in his criminal history where Taniela was working as a full-time glazier and living with his wife and family.

“All went wrong for him when the relationship broke down last year,” Mr Stewart said.

The court was told Taniela now resides in housing commission and is working casually as a removalist.

Magistrate Annette Hennessy took into account Taniela’s early plea of guilty and the circumstances surrounding the offences.

Taniela was convicted and fined $600 for failure to appear and a further $450 for breaching bail conditions.

In relation to the 32 fraud charges, a total amount of $2464.68 restitution was ordered.

Taniela was placed on probation for 18 months.

A conviction was recorded.

“Needless to say any further property offending, dishonesty offending – stealing, fraud ect a term of imprisonment will be on the table,” Ms Hennessy said.