Christopher Monk: Mildura handyman’s $16,000 Red Cliffs shed court case

He promised to build a shed for a first-time customer, but instead pocketed $16,000 without ever starting work.

A self-employed handyman promised to build a shed, but $16,000 later, he hadn’t started.

A handyman who took $16,000 to build a shed without ever starting work gambled away some of the money at gaming venues.

Christopher Monk, 39, on Monday faced Mildura Magistrates’ Court over the 2013 offending and pleaded guilty to obtaining the money by deception.

A police prosecutor said Monk, who at the time was a self-employed handyman, had been introduced to his Red Cliffs victim by a neighbour.

The court heard Monk told the victim he could build him a shed for $19,800, with an initial $10,000 deposit to be followed by a $6000 payment when materials were ready.

The remaining $3600 was said to be due on completion of the job.

Police said after the initial deposit was paid, no funds were spent by Monk on construction materials.

The court heard he told his victim the materials were ready, prompting the $6000 payment.

It was revealed in court the money had been spent soon after, with a portion used at gaming venues.

Police said the victim never heard from Monk again.

The court heard when the victim made inquiries with other tradespeople, he was told it was not possible to do the job for the amount Monk had quoted.

Monk’s lawyer said Monk had lived in the Mildura district for 10 years and was now employed.

The lawyer said at the time of the offending Monk was “juggling several jobs” and believed he would be in a position to build the shed.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan rejected a suggestion from Monk’s lawyer that the case was a civil matter.

Mr Coghlan said there was “clear criminality” because at no stage did Monk take any steps to proceed with the building of the shed.

Monk was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order requiring 250 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay back his victim the $16,000 in $500 monthly instalments.

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