Brisbane man Statton Broxham faces Tweed Heads Local Court for financial deception over dodgy telescope sale

An odd court case has landed before a Tweed magistrate involving a Brisbane man on the run from cops for years over a dodgy Facebook sale. Here’s what happened.

Statton Joseph Broxham leaves Tweed Heads Local Court.

An odd court case has landed before a Tweed magistrate involving a Brisbane man on the run from police since 2011 over the dodgy sale of a telescope.

Brisbane man Statton Joseph Broxham, 38, faced Tweed Heads Local Court on January 9.

He pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception after failing to send the Saxon Dobsonian astronomy telescope to a person who bought the item from him in March 2011 for $445.

Broxham, who works as a festival cleaner, placed an ad for the sale on Facebook page “astro buy and sell” where a Tasmanian man expressed interest.

The man transferred $445 to Broxham, but he stopped responding and the telescope was not received. The man then spotted the same item for sale on a page called “Ice in Space” two weeks later, police facts state.

Tasmania Police contacted NSW Police about the situation.

The case revolved around the sale of a $445 astronomy telescope.

Broxham’s ex-partner told officers Broxham did not send the telescope as the buyer wanted to pick it up to save on freight, but police have emails contradicting that claim, documents state.

Broxham left belongings including the telescope at an Inverell home and he did not reply when his ex-partner tried to get in contact.

She then sold the telescope alongside other possessions.

Police issued a warrant for Broxham’s arrest back in 2011, court documents reveal.

Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy said the offence was “not trivial” but fell “at the lower end of objective seriousness”.

He said the maximum sentence was 10 years imprisonment.

Broxham was ordered to pay a fine of $750 and $445 in compensation.