Brett James Whitford pleads guilty to fraud

A former employee of a major Mackay development firm “greedily” used his company-issued card to fill his personal vehicle with premium fuel and buy smokes. Find out why he did it.

Brett James Whitford pleaded guilty to unlawfully using his company card to pay for premium fuel for his personal vehicle.

A former employee of a major Mackay development firm “greedily” used his company-issued card to fill his personal vehicle with premium fuel and buy smokes, claiming he was owed money.

Brett James Whitford had been working for Cougar Developments when he unlawfully fuelled up three times between July 2 and 9, 2021 on the company dollar.

The 41 year old also bought cigarettes each time.

Brett James Whitford pleaded guilty to fraud.

The court heard the card was only to be used for regular unleaded fuel linked to company-only expenses.

Whitford had initially planned to fight the fraud charge before he pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court at the 11th hour.

The court heard the fraud totalled $517.73 and all occurred at a Puma service station at Racecourse.

Prosecutor David Epstein said Whitford’s bosses became aware of his conduct on July 13 and an internal investigation ensued with the matter referred to police in August.

Self represented, Whitford tried to allege he had not been paid for previous jobs he had done for Cougar Developments and as such had been given a waiver to use the card.

Whitford unlawfully fuelled his personal car with premium fuel on his company card. Photo: Trevor Veale / The Coffs Coast Advocate

“But you can’t break the law doing it,” Magistrate Damien Dwyer said.

“I wasn’t breaking the law,” Whitford said.

“Yes you were, you were filling up your own car,” Mr Dwyer said.

Whitford further said he had been using his personal car for work and had been told “that’s how I was to be paid for using my car for work”.

At this point Mr Dwyer said Whitford’s original not guilty plea would stand and the hearing would go ahead as planned.

“You can’t come in and say you’re guilty but you didn’t do it,” Mr Dwyer said.

“I won’t accept your plea unless you accept the facts.”

The 41 year old must pay back all the money he unlawfully spent on fuel and smokes.

Whitford affirmed his guilty plea and said he admitted to the facts as read.

The court heard he was not working.

Mr Dwyer said it was not an early or timely plea and labelled it “greed”.

“If you have a beef with your employer you don’t just take it into your own hands,” Mr Dwyer said.

Whitford was filed $600 and ordered to pay $517.73. A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Brett James Whitford pleads guilty to fraud