Accused conman Joseph Ball’s bail revoked after putting forward ‘highly vulnerable’ surety
An alleged conman is back behind bars after it was discovered an elderly woman who offered to stump up a $100,000 in bail surety was admitted to a mental health facility just days later.
Police & Courts
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An alleged conman is back behind bars after it was discovered an elderly woman who offered to stump up a $100,000 in bail surety never signed the documents and was admitted to a mental health facility just days later.
Joseph Ball, a dual Australian UK national alleged to be part of a three-man “Irish roof scamming” business which duped elderly Melburnians from the city’s ritzy suburbs of almost half a million dollars, was granted bail last month after an elderly “family friend” offered up her home as surety.
Marika Ross swore on oath to keep a watchful eye on Mr Ball, 29, while he and his wife lived with her, vowing to alert police should he breach his bail conditions.
The promise to the court was bolstered by her pledge of $100,000 surety in the form of the title of her house.
Asked by the court if she was willing to lose her home, Ms Ross said she was “more than willing”.
It was on Ms Ross’ testimony and strict conditions Mr Ball was freed on bail, Magistrate Donna Bakos said.
But just days after his release, Ms Ross was admitted to hospital after suffering a psychotic break outside her home.
Doctors told the court the elderly woman had been experiencing a relapse of a serious mental illness and as a result was “highly vulnerable”, had impaired decision making and was “unfit” to sign any legal documents.
The news of Ms Ross’ offer of a surety came as a shock to her children, who said they had never met Mr Ball or his wife and ordered them out of their mother’s home and promptly changed the locks.
Ms Bakos said she was doubtful Mr Ball and his wife ever intended to live with Ms Ross.
Prosecutor Chrisanthi Paganis said it “begged the question” whether this is a further extension of Mr Ball’s alleged offending in which he took advantage of elderly and vulnerable people.
Prosecutors argued this week Mr Ball was an unacceptable risk to the community and his bail should be revoked.
During the hearing, it emerged Ms Ross’ had in fact never signed the surety documents or title of her house and instead Mr Ball’s father had transferred $100k from the UK and Mr Ball’s wife had signed the documents.
The court heard on Thursday, Mr Ball Snr is suspected of being involved in identity fraud scams in which investigations are ongoing.
Ms Bakos blasted Mr Ball’s legal counsel, accusing them of “misleading the court” in not adhering to the bail conditions she had imposed.
“The expectation of the court was that the $100k surety was going to come from (Ms Ross),”
“That’s what the court was led to believe,” Ms Bakos said.
Ms Bakos’ dismissed suggestions by Mr Ball’s defence lawyer it was a misunderstanding, saying: “you’re getting cute and I don’t like it”.
Mr Ball, Michael Dooley and Johnny Dooley – not believed to be related – are accused of running a sophisticated “Irish roofing scam” in some of Melbourne’s richest suburbs, including Elwood, Sandringham and South Yarra, totalling more than $425,000.
The alleged scam targeted elderly Melburnians – some as old as 90 – and saw the men approach their alleged victims claiming they had noticed their roofs needed work.
Ball faces 16 deception related charges with 15 victims so far identified.
Police anticipate that number to grow, the court heard.
Mr Ball and his wife are both unemployed yet the court heard they had been living in a $600-a-week apartment, both wear $50,000 Rolex watches, and own high-end goods by Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
Mr Ball was taken into custody and will return to court with his co-accused in November.
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