Former military contractor Nathan Bradnock scams Oakleigh motel for free stay

A former military contractor has scammed $8500 for a lengthy stay at an Oakleigh motel after he pretended to be a church worker helping the homeless.

Nathan Bradnock pleaded guilty to the scam on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

A New Zealand dad and former military contractor pretended to be a church worker helping organise accommodation for the homeless so he could get a free stay in an Oakleigh motel, a court has heard.

Nathan Bradnock, 49, pleaded guilty to the scam in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning.

A worker at the Lamplighter Motel in Oakleigh, received a call from someone claiming to be a Uniting worker who was organising emergency accommodation for a couple who was experiencing homelessness.

The caller followed up with an email allowing Bradnock and his former partner to begin their stay in May, 2023.

The motel kept receiving emails for their stay to be extended.

No payments were made despite a fake receipt being sent from the email address.

Bradnock — who is serving a five-year jail term for a home invasion — and the woman stayed for two months and racked up an $8500 bill before they were booted from the motel.

Investigators discovered the email was fake and the phone number used to call the motel was Bradnock's phone number.

The court was told Bradnock’s offending was fuelled by “dishonestly and desperation”.

Magistrate Luisa Bazzani sentenced him to a three-month jail term which will be served concurrently with his ongoing prison sentence.

She also ordered him to repay the motel for his stay.

Bradnock, who previously served as a military contractor in Iraq and South Sudan, is expected to be deported back to New Zealand when he is released from custody.