Lachlan Chittenden escapes conviction for buying drinks with stolen credit card during Schoolies

The teen son of a Sydney real estate boss has told a court he made a “stupid mistake” after he found a missing credit card during Schoolies.

The teenage son of a high-flying real estate boss has told a court that using a stolen credit card to buy four rounds of drinks during Schoolies was a “stupid mistake”, as he avoided conviction.

Lachlan Chittenden was on Friday ordered to pay back the $156.77 he racked up on an American Express card at a Byron Bay pub last year, buying 14 vodkas in less than 30 minutes.

The 18-year-old son of ex-Colliers International managing director Peter Chittenden was sentenced at Picton Local Court after pleading guilty to a charge of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

Lachlan Chittenden leaves court with his mother on Friday. Picture: Heath Parkes-Hupton

During the hearing, the court was told the card had gone missing from the purse of Jemma Fricke, a fellow pub patron who was a stranger to the teen.

The former Scots College student was not charged with stealing the credit card and told the court it had been handed to him by “a person I know”.

“I don’t know where he got it but he handed it to me,” Mr Chittenden said.

“I wasn’t thinking properly and it was a stupid mistake.”

Jemma Fricke, from Melbourne, had her card and other items taken from her purse. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Maurice Baroni told the court his client was remorseful and had been embarrassed by media reports this week detailing the incident.

He referenced a “scuffle” involving a photographer outside court, and claimed the articles had attempted to “sensationalise” the offending by focusing on the Chittenden family.

Peter and Lachlan Chittenden participating in the Wipeout Dementia fundraiser in 2019. Picture: Supplied

Mr Baroni argued the charge should be dealt with under a Section 10, meaning no conviction would be recorded against Chittenden’s name, pointing to the “candour” he showed after being caught.

“He was open and honest with the police. He didn’t attempt to hide anything,” he said.

“It was Schoolies. He’s 18 years old, barely 18 years old.”

Mr Baroni told the court the teenager was a young man who, despite his privileged upbringing, received “no handouts” from his parents, and worked for his money.

He also said his client’s charity work overseas was evidence of his usual good character, and claimed news reports published this week meant he had already been “punished enough”.

“He’s embarrassed, he’s remorseful … he’s got the rest of his life ahead of him.”

The 18-year-old was remorseful for his actions, the court was told. Picture: Supplied

Magistrate David Degnan referenced an article published by the Daily Mail during sentencing, saying he was not concerned the teen hadn’t told his father Peter about the charge.

The magistrate said the fact Chittenden had informed his mother, who was supporting him in court, was “what’s important to me”.

“There are moments in our life where our integrity is tested,” Magistrate Degnan said.

“Yours was tested when you were given someone else’s property. And you failed.”

He said the charge faced by the teenager was a “serious offence”, which carried a maximum of 10 years’ jail, and reminded him he was no longer a child: “You’re playing first grade now.”

The court heard Chittenden had suffered “a great deal of denunciation” through the press. Picture: Supplied

Magistrate Degnan did not record a conviction and imposed a two-year conditional release order, meaning Chittenden could face conviction if he committed another offence in that period.

He also ordered the teenager pay back Ms Fricke.

The magistrate said he could tell Mr Chittenden understood the gravity of the offending as he could see the “fear in his eyes” as he stood before the court.

He was satisfied Mr Chittenden’s crime was an “offence committed by young man who made a terrible mistake”.

“Not every mistake needs to be punished with a conviction,” he said. “Stay out of trouble.”