Anthony Gliddon: Motor dealer guilty of flipping caravans illegally

A Brisbane used-caravan salesman sold off dozens of shonky caravans purchased interstate by lying on official forms to get them registered, a court has heard.

A Brisbane used-caravan salesman bought dozens of written-off vans interstate and told Transport and Main Roads they had never been registered before, a court has heard.

Manly West man Anthony Michael Gliddon, 69, a licensed motor dealer, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court today to one count of fraudulently falsifying a record.

Gliddon was originally charged with committing a fraud over the value of $1 million — the gross value of all the caravans he sold fraudulently.

His offending occurred between August 12, 2013 and November 26, 2016, the court heard.

Gliddon flipped dozens of caravans, mostly bought via auction in NSW but some from Queensland and South Australia, all of which had been statutorily written-off.

Crown prosecutor David Finch told the court invoices from the auction houses recorded that the vans were not to be re-registered.

Anthony Gliddon leaving Brisbane District Court after pleading guilty to fraud over $30,000. Picture: Liam Kidston

However, Gliddon circumvented this by applying for a Low Volume VIN, making it appear the vans were manufactured by Gliddon and therefore removing the barrier to registration.

Mr Finch said, after discovering Gliddon’s “obfuscation” with the help of the Crime and Corruption Commission, TMR contacted the owners of the vans sold by Gliddon.

TMR broke the news that they were unable to use their caravans, as they had been registered on the basis of false information.

The court heard 17 claims had been lodged with the Office of Fair Trading by disgruntled buyers, all of which were on hold pending the outcome of the Gliddon’s District Court matter.

Despite all parties agreeing an offence was committed, Mr Finch struggled to explain exactly what harm was caused.

That was because there was “no direct evidence of the caravans being written-off’’ (unusable, as opposed to statutorily written-off).

“The majority, if not all caravans, were handed roadworthy and gas certificates,” Mr Finch said.

However, there would be “downstream” issues for TMR to resolve in rectifying the fraud, he said.

Mr Finch described Gliddon’s offending as “egregious” due to the fact Gliddon became a licensed motor dealer in February 2015. He therefore had extra obligations to act honestly.

Defence counsel Christopher Wilson told the court there was no risk to the public’s safety due to Gliddon’s actions.

Rather, he described Gliddon’s fraud as being technical of nature and stemming from the differences between the regulatory schemes in Queensland and NSW.

He said Gliddon was under a reasonable belief that because of these differences, which Mr Wilson described as a “loophole”, he was acting legally.

Mr Wilson agreed Gliddon erred in failing to declare the vans were previously registered.

Gliddon continues to work as a licensed used caravan salesman, buying damaged vehicles and flipping them, the court heard.

Judge Smith reserved his decision until July 12.