Edward Harold Alan Wilson sentenced for fraud

A Caloundra businessman spiralled into a criminal lifestyle when he started a “chop shop” and defrauded unsuspecting customers out of $59,100.

A Caloundra businessman will spend time behind bars after he defrauded unsuspecting customers out of $59,100.

Edward Harold Alan Wilson, 33, was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to 20 charges including 14 counts of fraud over eight months in 2021.

Police prosecutor Rebecca Lambert told the court three victims had told police Wilson had swindled a total of $59,100 from them but police suspected the actual amount even much higher.

“ … (Wilson) was running a chop shop, receiving vehicles, rebirthing them using a large number of stolen parts and providing false roadworthys,” she said.

The court heard Wilson, who was charged with three counts of receiving tainted property, also unlawfully used and destroyed a car before trying to persuade a man to lodge a false insurance claim.

The father-of-two was serving a six-month suspended sentence for five years and was on bail for other matters when he engaged in the criminal behaviour.

Senior Constable Lambert said a two to two-and-a-half year prison sentence was an appropriate punishment and asked for Wilson’s six-month suspended sentence to be activated and added to the end of the prison period.

She said the “recidivist offender” caused significant financial detriment to many victims and asked for $59,100 in restitution to be ordered.

Wilson’s solicitor Ben Rynderman said Wilson successfully employed three people at his Caloundra business, Trailer Worx, for a long period before any “misdeeds”.

Mr Rynderman described the man’s scam as a desperate attempt to get out of debt.

He said Wilson wanted to live a normal life after falling into a “criminal lifestyle” and suggested an 18-month to two-year prison sentence was an appropriate punishment.

Mr Rynderman said there was only evidence to support around $23,170 of the defrauded funds alleged by police.

He said Wilson’s inevitable prison sentence would be a substantial punishment and said a restitution order was not needed.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist ordered Wilson to serve eight months of his two-year sentence and set a parole release date of June 17.

Given the prison sentence and Wilson’s limited financial capacity, Mr Stjernqvist did not order him to pay any restitution and noted there were other means victims could recover loses.

The Trailer Worx website contains limited information about the business and there are no work signs outside the address visible on Google Maps.

Originally published as Edward Harold Alan Wilson sentenced for fraud