Mother-in-law among travel agent Jordan Dittloff’s con victims
THE 70-year-old future mother-in-law of a fraudulent travel agent was among the dozens of devastated clients he duped, a court has heard.
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THE 70-year-old future mother-in-law of a fraudulent travel agent was among the dozens of devastated clients he duped, a court has heard.
Jordan Dittloff pleaded guilty to 47 charges of almost $280,000 worth of theft after he took payment for holidays at his Ace Travel business in Colac, but never finalised the bookings.
His fiancee Skye’s mother, Prudence Campbell, in a victim impact statement, described how she had paid $6585 to Dittloff in May last year to book a tour to mark her 70th birthday.
The County Court in Geelong heard Dittloff had taken a $1395 travel kitty rallied together by family and friends at her surprise birthday party, a week before he disappeared in June last year.
Mrs Campbell, who stood guarantor on one of two home loans her daughter shared with Dittloff, detailed how the theft had caused not only a financial strain on her, but also affected her health, suffering a brain haemorrhage in the months after.
MORE: ACCUSED TRAVEL AGENT FRAUDSTER JAILED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
She also explained how her family had been named and shamed on social media as being part of Dittloff’s deceitful actions.
Mrs Campbell said she brought up her four daughters on her own and was “deeply worried” Skye would now struggle to trust another man.
The court heard Dittloff, a former Rotary member and Young Liberals president, and Skye’s relationship was now over.
Dittloff was reported missing by his mother on June 1, after he placed a note, without notice, on the front door of the Murray Street travel business stating that it was closed.
Prosecutor Raelene Maxwell told the court Dittloff had admitted to police when handing himself in almost two weeks later he had “poor business practices” and was “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.
“He told police that he closed the doors and left the note as he knew it was about the time that people were going to start their travel but did not have bookings and that everything would unravel,” Ms Maxwell said.
“He stated he knew it was wrong, that he deserved to go to jail and he would one day pay the money back.”
Ms Maxwell read out 10 victim impact statements to the court, many of which described their anger and frustration surrounding the betrayal and how they had lost their cash savings.
“Jordan betrayed my trust in him as a businessman and as a friend,” Heather Green, who suffered the biggest loss of almost $32,000, said in her statement.
“I really have to question whether Jordan has any real remorse for what he has done to us.”
Dittloff’s parents Sue and Michael, along with his younger brother Bodey, was in court to support him.
His solicitor, Ian Pugh, told the court while they were supporting him they were “shocked and horrified” by their son’s behaviour.
Mr Pugh pointed out Dittloff, who has just finished a six-month sentence for drug trafficking, was not using the stolen money for drugs, but rather for his own “wages and debts”.
He urged Judge Gerard Mullaly to give a minimum sentence with a Community Corrections Order.
Judge Mullaly will hand down his sentence on March 2.
rebekah.cavanagh@news.com.au