Man used firefighter uniform to defraud Launceston businesses of tens of thousands of dollars

A man pretending to be a firefighter who scammed several businesses of thousands of dollars of goods has avoided a lengthy jail sentence. What the court heard.

A 33-year-old man has avoided a lengthy jail sentence after he pretended to be firefighter, scamming several Launceston businesses of tens of thousands of dollars. Picture: Supplied by NSW Rural Fire Service

A 33-year-old man has avoided a lengthy jail sentence after he pretended to be firefighter, scamming several Launceston businesses of tens of thousands of dollars.

Shane Mark Hughes pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud, which occurred between October 19 and October 26, 2022, and appeared in the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday before Acting Justice David James Porter.

Mr Porter said Hughes entered an “agreement” with another man, who was then employed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Parks and Wildlife as a firefighter.

The court heard Hughes used the man’s branded uniform and knowledge to obtain goods from various stores throughout Launceston by fraudulently ordering them on behalf of the Department.

The total amount of the fraudulent invoices sent to the Department was $19,994.35.

On November 29, 2022, police searched Hughes’ home but none of the property was located.

During a police interview, Hughes made admissions that suggested he was involved but said he “was using drugs and could not remember everything”.

Launceston Supreme Court. Picture: Patrick Gee

Mr Porter said Hughes had an extensive criminal history and a very “unfortunate, disruptive, and dysfunctional upbringing”.

He said he struggled with an addiction to methamphetamine at the time of the offending, which motivated him to secure funds for his drug taking.

The court heard that Hughes had since moved back to Cape Barren Island and had worked to put his drug problem and criminal offending behind him.

“His return to the Island is fully supported by community leaders and is seen as someone who is going to have a role in the community in the long term. It is said that he shows initiative, follows direction, works hard, and is particularly motivated,” Mr Porter said.

Mr Porter said Hughes’ offending was “serious in nature” even though ”the crimes seem to have been ‘easy’ to commit”.

“They involve masquerading as a person of some authority within government and taking advantage of the trust of those in the businesses involved,” he said.

“I take into account, as I must, the defendant’s disadvantaged background and his pleas of guilty.

“Were it not for his demonstrated rehabilitation in terms of his drug use and addiction, and attitude to criminal behaviour … imprisonment would be inevitable.”

Mr Porter convicted Hughes of the crimes and sentenced him to nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months.

He imposed a compensation order for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for $9,997.18.

Originally published as Man used firefighter uniform to defraud Launceston businesses of tens of thousands of dollars