NewsBite

Andrew Alasdair Ryan: Fraudster who swindled more than $300k pleads guilty in Southport court

A Gold Coast fraudster used multiple people’s names to swindle more than a quarter of a million dollars and bought a luxury car. One of them was his elderly stepfather.

What happens when you are charged with a crime?

A GOLD Coast fraudster used his 72-year-old stepfather’s name to apply for a more than $210,000 loan.

He also forged a letter to get a loan for buy a luxury Jeep Chyrsler.

Andrew Alasdair Ryan swindled more than $312,000 in three years.

He pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to five counts of fraud.

The court was told that in June 2011 made an application through RAMS Finance for the loan.

Mr Ryan used the money to buy a luxury Jeep. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO
Mr Ryan used the money to buy a luxury Jeep. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO

He was approved and the day after started to put money into his own bank account.

Ryan also repaid a loan to a doctor of about $40,000.

In 2014, Ryan used a friend’s name to get a car loan and buy a Jeep Chrysler using a forged letter.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. (MIN. COST $4)

The court was told Ryan also sold a non-existent generator on eBay and got a second loan in his stepfather’s name.

Judge David Kent sentenced Ryan to four years prison to be suspended after he served seven months.

He swindled more than $300,000.
He swindled more than $300,000.

“The individuals (defrauded) were both people who you did owe a relationship of trust and you breached that,” he said.

Barrister Sarah Thompson, instructed by Bamberry Lawyers, said Ryan had a job offer to work as a truck driver when released from prison.

She said Ryan was suffering from financial distress after the bank foreclosed on his home in 2012.

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/andrew-alasdair-ryan-fraudster-who-swindled-more-than-300k-pleads-guilty-in-southport-court/news-story/f024e52bc7c6a699cab77b4c2a5a2f64