Peter Fazackerley: Ipswich dad fronts Brisbane court for defrauding Moreton Bay Regional Council

An Ipswich businessman who defrauded a local council of tens of thousands of dollars says he did so after discovering his father had stolen $1 million from him, a court has heard.

Peter William John Fazackerley, 44, leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, February 13.

An Ipswich businessman must pay more than $43,000 restitution to a council he wrongfully obtained money from so he could bolster his business and pay his employees.

Peter William John Fazackerley, 44, of Brookwater faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to one count each of forgery, fraud, and uttering a bank guarantee between June 1 and June 6, 2020.

The court heard he defrauded Moreton Bay Regional Council of more than $43,230 by way of a fake bank guarantee.

His lawyer Dominic Brunello clarified he was at some stage entitled to receive the funds from the council “subject to there not being any defects”.

“The offence was committed by virtue of him seeking them back in consideration of a bank guarantee which was knowingly false,” he said.

It was, essentially, an early release of funds to Mr Fazackerley under false pretences.

Mr Brunello indicated his client, who had no criminal record and was by several accounts a “hardworking” and “honest” man of integrity, committed the offences with noble intentions.

He said it came after Mr Fazackerley discovered his terminally ill father had stolen up to $1 million from his company which, along with the effects of Covid-19, pushed it into an untenable financial position.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The court heard the businessman made no complaint about the enormous alleged theft but had cut contact with his father.

“In short, he (Mr Fazackerley) hoped to trade out of trouble,” Mr Brunello said.

Mr Brunello argued his client’s offending was motivated not by greed but by “need”, as his only desires were to keep his company afloat and continue to pay his staff over the Christmas period.

He said Mr Fazackerley recently entered a defacto relationship with a woman he lived with along with his three children and her four children.

The Brookwater man now works as a site manager; a job which is “less stressful” and allows him to spend more time with his family.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic noted Mr Fazackerley was clearly ashamed and remorseful for his actions, which was demonstrated by his willingness to reimburse the council for the full amount that had been taken.

She recognised the reasons for him wanting to obtain a “temporary bandaid” for his financial situation but said the way he went about things was “concerning”.

Mr Fazackerley was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment for the three charges, wholly suspended for an operational period of two years, and ordered to pay $43,230.62 restitution to the council within 14 days.

Originally published as Peter Fazackerley: Ipswich dad fronts Brisbane court for defrauding Moreton Bay Regional Council