Merewether: Anthony ‘Tony’ Lyons scammed friends, lovers out of $420k
Shocking court details have revealed how a Newcastle man created a web of fake people, businesses and stories to defraud those close to him.
Newcastle
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A Merewether businessman pressured his friends into lending him money, while fraudulently applying for loans in their names to repay gambling debts, a court has heard.
Anthony John Lyons, known as Tony Lyons, previously pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court to two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and one count of publishing false or misleading material.
The 46-year-old was on Monday sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment for the offences.
Court documents said Lyons had contacted family friends of more than 20 years in October 2018, with the opportunity to buy a pizza franchise.
He asked them to act as guarantors on a business loan but the victims said they would lend him the deposit, so as not to risk their earthmoving business.
The victims transferred Lyons $183,000 over several months, as well as sending him copies of their identification, a list of equipment owned by their business, and the title to their Thornton warehouse.
Court documents said Lyons continued to ask for money under the pretence of finalising the loan and releasing the funds.
He then used their identities to apply for a $183,000 mortgage on their business.
“By this time (the victims) felt like they were in a situation that if they did not lend him (more) money, he may never get a loan to pay them back the money they had already lent him,” court documents said.
“It is evident the accused took out a loan on the victims’ business to repay the money they lent him, however the accused did not pay them back.
“The victims are unable to operate to their full capacity, they cannot buy or sell their equipment.”
Court documents said Lyons defrauded a woman he met at The Beaches Hotel in December 2019 of $220,000.
He told the woman he was interested in buying a childcare business, and later a removalist business.
“The accused told the victim his investment money had gone missing,” court documents said.
“The accused texted the victim asking for a copy of her drivers’ licence and personal details, telling her he was in a hole and going to neck himself.
“After continually being harassed by the accused ... the victim sent the accused a copy of her licence.”
Court documents said Lyons repeatedly asked the woman to take out a loan for $220,000, that he would repay with a government business incentive grant.
The woman later discovered Lyons had used her identity to take out a second mortgage of $220,000 on her Lambton home, and open a TAB account.
The mortgage was cancelled, but the woman was charged a $11,415 withdrawal fee.
“At the time of his arrest the accused is still attempting to take out loans on (the victim’s) home,” court documents said.
“The accused is continually pressuring the victim to meet him to sign documents, loan applications, and creating fictitious people, phone numbers, email addresses, stories and businesses to trick the victim.”
Court documents said Lyons had a three-month relationship with another woman around June 2019, and used her identity to apply for a $17,000 loan.
“The victim spoke with the accused over text messages, (he) claimed the victim knew about it and had given him her details,” court documents said.
The woman stopped the loan application and cut off contact with Lyons.
During sentencing, Lyons’s lawyer Warrick Hill told the court his client had a gambling addiction.
“He has been through Gamblers Anonymous and continues to go through that,” Mr Hill said.
“He has also got a mental health plan from his doctor.”
Mr Hill said Lyons saw his friends as “easy money”.
“I still struggle with how someone kept giving across that sort of money but the onus is on Mr Lyons,” he said.
“He took advantage of the friendship ... I can’t colour it any other way.”
Mr Hill requested Lyons be sentenced to an intensive corrections order, to allow him to serve time in the community.
Magistrate David Price refused, ordering Lyons into custody.
“The sentencing assessment report suggests that he is far from contrite in relation to his conduct,” Mr Price said.
“(The report said) he’s failed to show an appropriate degree of insight into his offending and his attitude towards addressing his underlying behaviours appeared superficial and court-motivated.”
Lyons will be eligible for parole in January 2022.
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