NDIS fraudster Paul Kevan Tilbury to be sentenced for spending$400k on extravagant lifestyle

A fraudster who was falsely portraying himself to be a doctor while ripping off vulnerable clients and paying himself $10,000 a fortnight has fronted court.

An NDIS fraudster has begged for no jail after he spent more than $400,000 of his clients money to fund his extravagant lifestyle.

Paul Kevan Tilbury was living the “good life” while exploiting some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

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During sentencing submissions on Monday, Mollie McKendrick, for the prosecution, told the court there had been a lack of insight, remorse and rehabilitation into Tilbury’s offending, which was driven by greed.

Ms McKendrick said Tilbury had transferred over $410,000 to himself in the two year offending period, which was a fortnightly salary of just under $10,000.

She said it was evident Tilbury was living an extravagant lifestyle, rather than trying to keep his business, People Come First afloat, by the fact that he transferred over $224,000 to himself from July to December 2018.

Paul Kevan Tilbury outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“If he’s propping up the business then he’s certainly still living the good life,” District Court Judge Paul Muscat commented.

Ms McKendrick said over $17,000 of false claims were made in September 2018, and two days after Tilbury spent nearly $3500 at clothing store Johnny Bigg.

Previously the court heard that, in the space of just two years, Tilbury had taken money intended for 19 of his NDIS clients and purchased:

CLOTHING worth $30,000

TOBACCO worth $11,500

JEWELLERY worth $10,000

ALCOHOL worth $7000

TRAVEL and accommodation worth $7500

A HOME bar worth $5000 – and a further $3500 to have it installed

FLOWERS worth $4000

A JAPANESE meal, at a Melbourne restaurant, worth $3500

“His business was called ‘People Come First’ which is an unusual name when, on the facts of the case, it should have been ‘I Come First’,” Judge Muscat said.

Tilbury, 58, of Woodforde, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of deception, having submitted $404,000 in false NDIS claims between 2017 and 2019.

He has been banned for life from operating as an NDIS provider.

Ms McKendrick said Tilbury’s claims that he had repaid the company over $120,000 was a “complete fabrication” as bank records showed only $40,000 had been repaid.
Ms McKendrick said Tilbury was also holding himself out to be a doctor, when he had no qualifications.

“He actually applied on behalf of PCF to be a registered NDIS provider in the name of Dr Paul Tilbury,” Ms McKendrick said.

James Caldicott, for Tilbury, told the court his client was remorseful for his offending, which had “snowballed out of control” and he began robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“Monies had to be raised elsewhere by inflating claims … so services were provided,” he said.

Mr Caldicott asked the court to allow Tilbury, who had started a doctorate but not finished, to stay in the community to give him the opportunity to repay the money.

Judge Muscat remanded Tilbury to face court again in March.

Originally published as NDIS fraudster Paul Kevan Tilbury to be sentenced for spending$400k on extravagant lifestyle