Christopher Ian Anthony Cuthbert used faked documents to score $1.4M and avoid a drug test

A problem gambler used fake documents to score mortgages worth more than $1.4m on Gold Coast homes he did not own. He also faked a website to avoid drug tests.

A PROBLEM gambler used fake documents to score mortgages worth more than $1.4m on Gold Coast homes he did not own.

Christopher Ian Anthony Cuthbert then used that money to fuel his gambling habit at The Star casino.

The 31-year-old, who was on bail and a suspended sentence at the time, also faked documents and a website from a Gold Coast rehabilitation centre in an attempt to avoid a drug test from probation and parole.

Cuthbert pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to multiple charges including fraud, attempted fraud, personation and drug offences.

Judge Julie Dick sentenced him to seven years in prison with parole eligibility on June 25 next year.

A problem gambler used fake documents to score mortgages worth more than $1.4m Photo: iStock

He has been in custody since late January this year.

“The offending is serious and involves a large amount of money and a number of complainants,” Judge Dick said.

She said it was “clear enough that at the heart of this is a drug problem”.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy said Cuthbert’s first frauds were in April and June 2019 when he used fake identification to obtain two loans worth about $65,000.

She said between July 2019 and January last year Cuthbert then used fake documents to obtain mortgages on two homes he did not own.

He obtained more than $1.4m.

A problem gambler used fake documents to score mortgages worth more than $1.4m.

Cuthbert also attempted to get a third mortgagee for $1m but was unsuccessful.

Ms Guy said as a part of Cuthbert’s offending he also pretended to be someone from a rehabilitation centre to officers from probation and parole.

“In his interview (with police) he says it was to avoid urine (drug) testing,” she said.

“He even went to the trouble of setting up a fake website.”

Ms Guy said police inquiries found Cuthbert had lost more than $400,000 at the casino.

Defence barrister Nathan Laing, instructed by Brooke Winter Solicitors, said when Cuthbert was arrested his bank accounts were frozen with more than $812,000.

Mr Laing said Cuthbert’s life had turned when he was assaulted by a teacher after moving to Australia from Indonesia.

He said Cuthbert, who has a two-year-old son, had battled an ice addiction.

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