Jack Causer convicted of $44,000 cattle fraud in Greendale

A young man has been convicted of carrying out an elaborate cattle fraud that cost his south western Sydney employers tens of thousands of dollars – with no cattle to show for it.

A young man has been convicted of carrying out an elaborate cattle fraud that cost his employers tens of thousands of dollars – with no cattle to show for it.

Jack Causer, 24, was convicted of five charges of dishonestly gaining financial advantage by deception after he consistently failed to appear in court.

Court documents reveal the Glenmore Park resident was the mastermind behind a twisted scheme to use his charm and agricultural knowledge to defraud his employers out of $44,000.

According to the police fact sheet, Causer was employed as a farmhand by a couple who own and operate a 200-acre cattle farm in Greendale. He was given a car and a fuel card, according to the documents.

Speaking to NewsLocal, one of the victims said Causer was “honest, reliable, and sweet” and hardworking. In February last year, the court documents show Causer asked his employers for a $20,000 loan to renovate his house.

The farmers agreed to transfer him the money on the condition the loan would be repaid weekly, according to the documents.

On May 7, Causer called his employers while they were on holiday in Tasmania and told them his friend Brittany Roberts had six cattle to sell for $6100. The victims transferred $3100 to Causer and he told them he would pay the rest as part of his loan repayment.

During May, the facts reveal Causer arranged for the “sale” of three more groups of cattle, purportedly owned by Ms Robert, totalling $31,200. The largest transaction was the sale of eight cattle for $12,600.

On June 2, the documents show Ms Roberts herself contacted the victims and offered to sell them four cattle for a hefty $9800.

By this time, documents reveal one of the victims was suspicious of Causer’s various excuses as to why none of the cattle had been delivered. After repeatedly asking for paperwork on the sales, the facts state Causer showed her four invoices (rather than the five needed).

The facts show the victim realised the invoices were doctored when she saw the GST was calculated at 14 per cent, rather than the usual 10 per cent. When she conducted a search, the facts show she saw the ABN of the “livestock business” was registered to Causer.

The victims confronted Causer on May 18 and he admitted the cattle didn’t exist.

In total, the victims paid $44,100 to purchase 32 cattle they never received. Of the money paid, court documents show $30,917 was sent into Causer’s account.

“A nice charming young boy we thought,” the victim said.

“But in the brain, not charming at all. Very cruel actually. He took our trust.”

Picton Court House. Picton Local Court. Picture: Adelaide Lang

On Wednesday, Picton Court heard Causer has not appeared in court or sent any communication to the court since being charged.

Causer was sentenced in his absence and his matter will return to Picton Court on March 2 for sentencing. The court heard police will be seeking compensation for the victims.

Causer’s co-accused, Ms Roberts, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. She will return to Picton court on October 6 for a hearing.