Scott Thompson fronts court over fraudulent sale of rental cars
A Melbourne man used 108 phone numbers and fake driver’s licences to sell cars he hired to fund his $1000 a day heroin addiction.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A heroin addict pocketed $106,000 after hiring rental cars using fake interstate driver’s licences then selling them on Marketplace to mostly fund his drug addiction.
Scott Thompson, 45, sold five vehicles he fraudulently hired from Kinto, SIXT, Hertz and Budget Direct and attempted to sell another two when police swooped in after buyers lodged complaints.
He pleaded guilty to eight charges of obtaining property by deception, three of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception and single charges of possessing methylamphetamine and possessing cannabis.
Thompson was sentenced by the County Court on Tuesday to two years’ and six months’ jail and ordered to pay back the $106,000.
Judge Sarah Dawes said Thompson hired a Toyota HiLux from Kinto on July 13, 2023 and showed a NSW driver’s licence in the name of Laura Phipps.
Thompson sold the vehicle nine days later for $38,000 cash after showing the purchaser a fake licence.
He also sold a Volkswagen Tiguan for $24,000, an MG for $12,000, a Toyota Corolla for $25,000 and a Volkswagen T-Cross for $17,000.
Police executed a warrant at Caroline Apartments in Brighton on September 20, 2023 where they arrested Thompson.
Judge Dawes said police found a number of SIM cards on Thompson who said he had 108 phone numbers that he used to practice his deception.
Thompson told police he needed money for drugs, pokie addiction, rent, cigarettes and food and that he would spend $3000 on heroin every three days.
He said he would hate it if somebody did the same to his family, but he had to do it to live.
After being kicked out of a storage locker in Frankston, Thompson said a junkie booked a room for him and his partner at Caroline Apartments for one night.
Judge Dawson said a serious aggravating factor was that Thompson offended while he was on a community corrections order.
“Your offending was brazen and involved a substantial amount of money. Your dishonesty was not spontaneous.
“It was a planned, calculated course of conduct. The use of false names, false licenses and false bank accounts facilitated your dishonest transactions,” she said.
Thompson has outstanding charges in NSW and Queensland and Judge Dawes said he was expected to be extradited upon completion of his sentence in Victoria.
He will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months.
