Robert Clifford: Tomakin man charged for allegedly forging an ANZ Bank cheque in Orange

A Tomakin man has been charged with fraud after allegedly forging a fake ANZ bank cheque to make hardware purchases in the regional NSW town of Orange.

A Tomakin man has been charged with fraud after alleging forging a fake ANZ bank cheque to make hardware purchases in the regional NSW town of Orange.

Robert Clifford was granted bail at Batemans Bay Local Court on May 23 having been remanded in custody over the weekend, charged with two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The 52-year-old man was further charged with making and possessing a false document, as well for breaking and entering after an incident dating to 2017 in Molong, near Orange.

According to court documents, Clifford is alleged to have forged a fake ANZ bank cheque in the name of S J and V M SWAIN in December 2016, and used it at the Rural Centre Orange to purchase a Husqvarna Chainsaw and accessories valued at $1456.

Clifford is further alleged to have made another false cheque in Molong in September 2016 to the value of $165 which was exchanged for cash.

Some weeks later, Clifford is alleged to have broken into the business shop of the RSL Molong on Gidley St sometime after 4.20am on January 28, 2017, and to have then taken $600.

The Queensland man was granted bail to remain at a South Coast caravan park from which he would have to report to police three times a week, and would be curfewed from 8pm until 8am.

Clifford’s solicitor told the court she would prefer for the case to remain at Batemans Bay Local Court, as Clifford had been residing locally with his mother and stepfather, but was cautioned by Magistrate Doug Dick that if pleas of not guilty were entered, it would be relocated to Orange for hearing.