Luke Green wants to backflip on guilty pleas

An alleged fraudster was due to be sentenced for dishonesty offences but now wants to plead not guilty to hocking a work laptop.

Luke Green has been charged with theft and obtaining financial advantage by deception after allegedly selling a work laptop computer at a pawnbrokers. Picture: Facebook

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A man who previously admitted to perpetrating a petty fraud had an eleventh hour change of heart as he was due to be sentenced on Wednesday, and wants to fight charges stemming from allegations he hocked a work laptop at a pawnbroker.

Luke Green was due to be sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday, but told Magistrate Margaret Hunter he wanted to backflip on his previous guilty pleas to charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and theft.

The court heard the charges stem from Green allegedly telling his former boss he had lost his work laptop only to hock it at a pawnbroker.

Green was again threatened with arrest yesterday, after appearing at court but suddenly leaving the building without explanation, and not picking up his legal aid lawyer’s phone calls.

When Green did return to court he told Ms Hunter he had left to pay for parking, and then told his lawyer, Todd Trotter, that he wanted to withdraw his guilty pleas.

The development meant Mr Trotter had to quit the case, and Green will have to find a new lawyer, because Mr Trotter might have to give evidence at an upcoming hearing about what Green has told him during normally-confidential discussions.

Green was originally due to be sentenced on the dishonesty charges in May this year, but failed to attend his sentencing hearing after calling the court and reporting that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

Ms Hunter said at the time of Green: “given the offences he’s in court for, I don’t know if I believe him, but it’s a good lark”.

Green was also threatened with arrest in May, if he didn’t produce a medical certificate.

On Wednesday, Ms Hunter said Green would need to arrange for a lawyer.

He returns to court in November.