Knox City cricketer Daniel Hoggett pleads guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception

A Knox cricketer left a trail of victims before his double-life as a bumbling Catch Me if You Can con man was hit for six.

Daniel Hoggett pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges. Facebook.

A cricketer’s escalating “thrillseeking” Catch Me If You Canidentity theft fraud racket which left a slew of victims has been bowled over.

Daniel Hoggett, 31, of Silvan, fronted the County Court this month after pleading guilty to multiple obtain financial advantage charges.

Hoggett rorted almost $48,000 and attempted to fleece a further $168,500 between May 2016 and July last year.

The bumbling scoundrel stole multiple identities which he used to open various credit and bank accounts.

Hoggett, who also pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception charges, made 24 Latitude After-Pay applications using bogus ID.

The majority of the funds Hoggett gleaned from the racket was not recovered by Latitude, the court was told.

Hoggett also opened various American Express, Bendigo Bank and Optus accounts and credit cards using stolen ID.

Hoggett used the accounts and credit cards to purchase expensive electronic goods including iPhone Pro phones and iPads.

Hoggett’s preferred retail target was the Good Guys with the fraudster opting to purchase his ill-gotten wares from that particular retailer on multiple occasions.

Hoggett was arrested, charged and bailed multiple times during his lengthy racket but investigators finally banged their man up for good in September last year.

Luke Barker, for Hoggett, submitted his client’s fraud racket was “largely unsuccessful”.

“On the one hand, Mr Hoggett’s offending was cynical, calculated, and protracted,” Mr Barker submitted.

“On the other hand, it was largely unsuccessful. Ultimately, given the limited amounts actually

received by Mr Hoggett, it is submitted that the offending can properly be regarded as at the

lower end of the spectrum for offences of this kind.”

The court heard Hoggett, from Silvan, grew up in Melbourne’s outer east.

Hoggett worked in multiple roles including as a fencer and landscaper after leaving Wantirna College at the end of Year 10.

The defence submitted Hoggett “failed to live up to his academic potential” due to undiagnosed ADHD.

Hoggett found school boring and was instead more focused on sport including cricket and football, the court was told.

Hoggett played for Knox City Cricket Club up until his latest remand and hopes to continue playing football and cricket once he is released.

Forensic psychologist Carla Ferrari noted Hoggett described his offending as “thrillseeking behaviour”.

“In relation to being motivated to continue to offend to gain higher credit limits is also explained by the neurological deficits associated with ADHD,” Ms Ferrari noted.

Judge Kevin Doyle will sentence Hoggett on December 17.

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