William David Sowter avoids jail after defrauding $1000 from disaster relief fund for flood victims

A young electrician has learned his fate after admitting to defrauding $1000 from a government disaster relief fund intended to help NSW residents suffering from floods.

Camden electrician William David Sowter has avoided jail after he admitted to defrauding $1000 from a government disaster relief fund intended to help residents badly affected by flooding in NSW.

The 25 year old represented himself in Picton Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to publishing false material to obtain advantage and dishonestly gaining financial advantage by deception.

The court heard a man known to Sowter contacted him on April 21 and asked if he wanted to make some money by exploiting a government disaster relief fund.

Court documents revealed the man wrote in text messages: “I got loop holes so you can get $500. You get a thousand but we go halves.’’

William David Sowter defrauded a Federal Government grant scheme established to help those badly affected by the massive flooding in NSW in March 2020. Picture: Adelaide Lang

After some back and forth, the police facts show Sowter sent his bank and driver’s licence details to the man, who assumed his identity to lodge an application for an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.

The fund was established to provide one-off payments to residents who were severely impacted by the disastrous flooding in March 2020.

To be eligible for the payment, a resident would have experienced serious injury, loss of life, or serious damage to property or finances.

To qualify for the fund, the police facts show Sowter said his home had been extensively damaged by the flooding.

In particular, the police facts show the application said the flooding had badly damaged the garage which had been “decked out”.

The police facts show Sowter and the man alleged flooding had damaged all of his furniture in the room to an unusable condition, caused mould behind the gyprock walls, and soaked the power-points with the TV and fridge plugged in.

Sowter was granted the $1000 emergency relief payment on the same day, and promptly transferred half to his accomplice, the police facts show.

William David Sowter with a supporter outside Picton Court. Picture: Adelaide Lang

He was arrested on January 7 year after an investigation revealed his house had sustained only $100 worth of damage and none of his possessions were impacted.

The man who contacted him is still being investigated by a specialist taskforce and the court heard police expect charges to be laid.

Magistrate Mark Douglass said the facts showed Sowter had been approached by “someone further up the food chain in relation to criminal activity”.

“He allowed himself to be used,” he said.

The magistrate told the court disaster relief funds were established quickly to provide immediate assistance, which could leave “flaws which criminals can exploit”.

Sowter told the court he was “angry at the world” at the time of the offence and trusted in the wrong person. He told the court he felt ashamed of his actions.

William David Sowter has avoided jail for defrauding a flood victim relief fund. Picture: Adelaide Lang

“I’m sorry, I’m angry at myself,” he said.

“Now, looking back at it, I see it and I feel bad for people.”

Despite Sowter’s lack of criminal history, Magistrate Douglass acknowledged “the community’s disgust” with criminals defrauding funds intended for those stricken by disaster.

The magistrate imposed a nine-month community corrections order which requires Sowter to be on good behaviour and not to reoffend. He also fined Sowter $1000 – the full amount he defrauded from the government with his false application.