Former real estate agent Brent Kershaw from Taree, Belmont faces court after continual fraud, stealing
A former real estate agent’s descent into drug addiction and fraudulent activity has become increasingly strange, it has been revealed in a Mid-North Coast court. Here’s what we know.
Mid-North Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mid-North Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former real estate agent’s descent into drug addiction and fraudulent behaviour has become increasingly bizarre, it has been revealed in a Mid-North Coast court.
One of the man’s recent victims suspected she was being scammed and did a Google search for his name: Brent James Kershaw.
The online search engine revealed Kershaw had been sentenced in Taree Local Court in August last year for a range of larceny, fraud and driving offences.
At the time, Magistrate Alison Hawkins told Taree Local Court Kershaw let himself “get out of control very quickly” on methamphetamines and alcohol.
She described some of the stealing incidents as “unfortunate and embarrassing”.
In addition to convictions and fines for dishonestly obtaining financial advantage and driving without a licence, Kershaw was placed on a 12-month community correction order for larceny.
But it was revealed in Forster Local Court this week Kershaw had shown “blatant disregard” for the order and associated reporting conditions.
The 40-year-old faced the court on Monday pleading guilty to more than 15 further offences, including several counts of shoplifting, obtaining financial advantage by deception, and a single count of having a knife in public.
On one occasion in October last year, a woman paid a $35 deposit for a pair of electric secateurs Kershaw advertised on Facebook Marketplace.
When her follow up messages went unanswered, she searched for Kershaw and took a screen shot of this publication’s article from August last year detailing his previous crimes.
The woman sent the picture to Kershaw and asked if he was “up to his old tricks?”.
In September, Kershaw walked into an Aldi store at Newcastle and attempted to steal a pressure washer, toolbox and other items.
But a female shop assistant recognised him from previous thefts and took the items from him before calling police.
On the night of October 18, police were made aware that Kershaw was at the Gunyah Hotel at Belmont, a Lake Macquarie suburb, and they went to speak with him.
Kershaw provided a fake name while speaking to officers in the poker section of the hotel about 11pm. They discovered Kershaw was carrying a 20 centimetre long folding knife.
Asked why he was carrying the blade, Kershaw said it was to cut at skin on the palm of his hand, police state in court documents.
Kershaw complained of chest pain after being taken to the Belmont Police Station and he was taken to hospital.
He was arrested for the recent offending when police recognised him riding his bike along Ronald Rd, Taree about 5.30pm on April 21.
Kershaw apologised to the court for his offending and was granted bail, which stipulated he was not to use Facebook Marketplace.
The case was adjourned to June 25.
Got a news tip? Email: janine.watson@news.com.au
Meet the talented young artists from ARTEXPRESS 2025
The annual art exhibition which shows some of the most outstanding and exemplary artworks across NSW by HSC visual arts students has opened. Meet the students and see their amazing works.
‘Amazed you were conscious’: Drunk as skunk driver slammed
A slurring, dishevelled Mid-North Coast council worker, who blew one of the highest blood alcohol readings a magistrate has ever seen, has been sentenced.