Matthew Hall: Man extorted intellectually disabled single mum out of $10k victim compo payout
A man extorted nearly $10,000 from an intellectually disabled single mum which she received as a victim compensation payout after being sexually assaulted by her stepdad.
Central Coast
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A 26-year-old standover man, who was sentenced to jail for extorting nearly $10,000 from a young, intellectually disabled single mother, has unsuccessfully appealed the severity of his sentence.
Matthew Hall, of San Remo, was sentenced in Wyong Local Court on September 30 to four months jail for two counts of demanding property with menaces with intent to steal and one count of intimidation.
He appealed the severity of his sentence at Gosford District Court on Monday where he was asked by his solicitor if it was “a pretty low way to behave?” to which Hall replied “yes”.
The court heard Hall’s partner had befriended the then 19-year-old victim at a special needs school to help young mothers back into education after she had moved from Queensland to live with her biological father.
An agreed statement of police facts states the young woman had been sexually assaulted by her stepfather in Queensland resulting in the birth of her child.
When her relationship with her estranged biological father broke down, the court heard she moved in with Hall and his girlfriend at their rented San Remo property for about three weeks until she found her own accommodation.
On Thursday, October 10, 2019 the victim was at a local bakery with Hall’s girlfriend and checked her online banking account.
“The victim saw the amount of $10,000 which she realised that it was her victim’s compensation payment,” the facts state.
“The girlfriend of the accused has seen the victim’s bank details and got excited. The victim has asked her friend not to tell anyone about her money.”
But when they got home Hall’s girlfriend immediately told him about the money.
“The accused has informed the victim that he had a truck lined up that he wanted her to pay for,” the facts state.
“The victim feeling intimidated by the accused wanting her money stated, `but that’s mine and (my child’s) money’. The accused said `I don’t care’.”
Hall, his girlfriend and the victim went to Lake Haven Shopping Centre where she withdrew $2000 from an ATM, which informed her she had reached her maximum withdrawal limit and would have to see a teller to withdraw any more cash.
“The accused, knowing the victim was vulnerable, has demanded that the victim give him the $2000 or he would leave her at Lake Haven and kick her out of the house so she would have no where to live,” the facts state.
They then all travelled to Gosford where Hall made her withdraw $3000 cash from a Commonwealth Bank teller, for “bond money” in case she found a place to live.
Once outside the bank he demanded she “hand it over”.
Later he used some of the money to purchase a Toyota Dyno removalist truck.
The next day they returned to Lake Haven Shopping Centre after she got an email from Centrelink advising her to update her details or her payments would cease.
“The accused has intimidated the victim to withdraw the remainder of the cash she had in the account to hide it from Centrelink otherwise they would cut her off as they could see what was in the accounts,” the police facts state.
She withdrew $4842 but told him ”no, it’s my money”.
“The accused has then said forcefully, `hand it over. I am older than you and more mature with money. I will keep it safe’,” the facts read.
He then bought a white Holden Commodore she wanted for $1600 but refused to put it in her name, telling her “too f...ing bad”.
Later when she brought up telling her Catholic Care and Family and Community Services (FACS) support workers about the victim compensation payment, Hall threatened her.
“If you f...ing tell them, I will kick you out, you will have nowhere to go and you will lose (your child),” the facts state.
“The victim generally believed these threats and was in genuine fear as a result.”
She eventually found her own place and told one of her support workers who contacted police.
Giving evidence at his severity appeal Hall said he was smoking $50 worth of cannabis a day and drinking heavily at the time of his offending.
“I was unemployed and going through a bit of a struggle,” he said.
“I needed to pay some bills.”
The court heard he and his partner had one child together and she was pregnant with their second.
Hall said he helped his partner’s father, who the court heard had his leg amputated, with showering and other tasks daily and that three months before he was sentenced in the Local Court he found full-time work with a rigging contractor and would agree to pay the victim back.
The court heard he had a criminal record with a number of intimidation convictions, as well as driving, damaging property, having a knife in public and assault offences.
Judge Tanya Bright described the sentence he received in the Local Court as “lenient” and that he had taken advantage of a vulnerable position “knowing her precarious position” which the community would find “reprehensible”.
She dismissed the appeal and upheld the sentence imposed in the Local Court.
Hall will be eligible for release on January 29, 2021.