North Queensland ‘bitumen bandits’ John Nunn, William Welch sentenced for $158,000 scam

Two internationals who travelled North Queensland ripping locals off for more than $158,000 in substandard bitumen works have been sentenced and now await deportation with their 15 victims expected to accept trivial sums in reimbursement.

Vehicles used by alleged bitumen bandits who posed as tradespeople offering bitumen surfacing for a discounted price. Picture: Queensland Police

Two international men who ripped North Queenslanders off for more than $158,000 in substandard bitumen works have been sentenced and now await deportation with their 15 victims expected to accept trivial sums in reimbursement.

John Nunn, 41 of Doncaster in the United Kingdom and William Welch, 34, of Darlington, UK, appeared in Mareeba Magistrates Court on Wednesday via video link from Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, with both pleading guilty to 21 and 18 offences respectively, including multiple charges of fraud, stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Trevor Woodman told the court the crew dubbed as the “bitumen bandits” travelled throughout North Queensland offering to perform resurfacing works including repaving driveways and carparks between April 8 and May 23.

He told the court throughout that period, the crew would make cold calls or engage with victims in person, telling them they had “leftover materials” and could offer to perform works at a discounted rate.

Vehicles used by bitumen bandits who posed as tradespeople offering bitumen surfacing for a discounted price. Picture: Queensland Police

They were arrested and charged by the Tablelands CIB.

He said their offending took place between Weipa and Cooktown down to Townsville and out to Mount Isa, with their victims suffering losses between $6000 and $33,000 each.

Among them was a church at Mount Isa which raises about $150 per week through its collections on Sundays and operates a conjoint daycare centre – which the court heard was still closed as of Wednesday due to not meeting regulatory requirements, with a substandard carpark following Nunn and Welch’s work.

As Sergeant Woodman read out each victim impact statement, the court heard the offenders had on multiple occasions coincidentally engaged with victims who had concreting and bitumen experience and would notice either the substandard equipment Nunn and Welch occupied, or constant defects in their processes and work.

Two "bitumen bandits" were sentenced for multiple fraud offences at Mareeba Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Queensland Police

The court heard in most cases, the crew would convince a victim of their service, dump bitumen materials at their property and then demand payment. In other cases they would complete substandard work, accept payment and refuse to return to correct errors and complaints lodged to them by the victims.

The string of offending all came to a halt after a vehicle Nunn hired from Mount Isa Airport on May 3 was reported stolen 17 days later, with police locating the men and the vehicle on May 22 and arresting and charging them.

Sergeant Woodman submitted for a restitution payment of $158,000 and three years imprisonment.

Defence Lawyer Michael McMillan, representing both offenders, argued the men were not the “prime movers” in a “much larger” scheme, comparing their participation to “couriers” in a drug syndicate.

Vehicles used by bitumen bandits who posed as tradespeople offering bitumen surfacing for a discounted price. Picture: Queensland Police

Mr McMillan told the court the men who had labouring backgrounds in the United Kingdom were in Australia for holidays, and were hired by “other players” to work for a company.

He urged magistrate Thomas Braes to convict the men of their “criminality” which he told the court was “the carrying out” of the scam, but not the operation of a large syndicate, while making reference to bank statements which showed the quoted sums paid by victims went to a third-party and that Nunn and Welch were only receiving about $350-$500 per job.

Mr McMillian submitted for suspended sentences stating Australian Border Force were ready to deport the men back to their native country making them “no longer our problem”.

He also tendered a cheque for $21,000, the sum delivered by both men reportedly selling their own assets, as restitution.

Taking into consideration the 63 days both Nunn and Welch had served in presentence custody, Mr Braes questioned whether justice would be delivered to the victims out of pocket $158,000, while the offenders returned home to live freely.

He also questioned the men’s level of involvement in the scam telling the court he could not make decisions on “what ifs”, referring to the “bosses” of the syndicate and whether they truly existed.

Mr Braes, in separate sentences, convicted both men of all charges, with each sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended after 12 months, less the 63 days already served.

Originally published as North Queensland ‘bitumen bandits’ John Nunn, William Welch sentenced for $158,000 scam