Serial fraudster jailed for $800k luxury car racket on Gumtree

A serial fraudster who fleeced Gumtree sellers out of almost $800,000 has been jailed after the full extent of his actions targeting luxury cars was revealed.

A Gumtree fraudster who swindled almost $800,000 from online sellers by doctoring bank statements for luxury cars and other vehicles has been sentenced to seven years’ jail.

Peter James Lawler, 27, contacted sellers and negotiated prices for cars and other items on 40 different occasions, collecting the goods without payment after he sent screenshots of false bank transfers.

The Brisbane District Court was told that over five months, Lawler and a co-offender fraudulently obtained an $83,000 Land Cruiser, a Range Rover and Mustang, both worth $50,000, a BMW, Mercedes and two excavators worth more than $100,000.

Lawler also tried to acquire a $67,000 Audi but the seller refused to hand over the car.

He was arrested by police in January 2019.

Lawler hoodwinked a seller out of an $83,000 Range Rover, not the one pictured, as part of the scam.

Prosecutor Carla Ahern said while most of the cars had been returned to the victims, there was still an economic loss of almost $370,000 that could not be recovered.

“His offending involved him targeting unsuspecting victims,” Ms Ahern said.

“They were genuinely trying to sell items of significance to him and … it can be presumed people had worked hard to acquire their vehicles and other valuables.”

The court was told that Lawler was on a suspended sentence at the time he took part in the Brisbane-wide racket.

In 2017, he was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, wholly suspended, after he duped 19 people out of $42,000 for phones, laptops, a drone and a designer handbag.

Lawler appeared in court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, attempted fraud and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

Defence barrister John Jacob said Lawler had PTSD after a “tragic upbringing” which was directly connected to his mental health and drug issues which had gone “largely unchecked”.

Mr Jacob said Lawler had begun counselling which provided “some hope” for his rehabilitation.

Judge Vicki Loury QC said it was “planned and persistent” offending and sentenced him to seven years’ jail.

After more than two years in pre-sentence custody, Lawler will be eligible for parole on May 25, 2021.