Nicholas John Anforth to be sentenced in Warwick District Court over cash for demerit points scheme

Advertising via social media, this 27-year-old convinced hundreds of Qld drivers to hand over cash in exchange for his taking on camera tickets and other fines.

Nicholas John Anforth pleaded guilty to a series of minor offences in Warwick Magistrates Court on July 9 ahead of his District Court sentence later this month.

A southern Queensland man who orchestrated a “cash for demerit points scheme” via social media is set to be sentenced in Warwick District Court.

Nicholas John Anforth, 27, pleaded guilty at a committal hearing in Warwick Magistrates Court on July 9 to five fraud related offences.

The offences include one count of attempting to pervert justice, one count of fraud and three counts of obtain or deal with another entity’s identification information for the purpose of committing or facilitating an indictable offence.

The charges were the result of a police sting, Operation Blot, where it was discovered that Anforth had processed hundreds of falsified documents, having advertised on social media he would take fines and demerit points for people in exchange for money.

Police believe that in total the operation involved more than 200 camera detection notices worth about $141,000 in fines, and 695 demerit points.

In a statement, police alleged the operation would involve “customers” contacting the man who would then nominate himself as being the driver for the offence.

After receiving the ticket, police alleged he would then sign it over to an unsuspecting third party who was the victim of identity theft.

Nicholas John Anforth will be sentenced in Warwick District Court later in July. Photo: File

The then 26-year-old was arrested in Warwick on August 8, 2024, and has remained on bail since.

Anforth was sentenced for minor offences on Wednesday, including driving while intoxicated on a probationary license and breaches of bail.

Police prosecutor Phil Donaldson told the court Anforth was stopped for a random breath test along the New England Highway on September 24.

Senior Constable Donaldson said Anforth returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.034.

His lawyer Michael Gatenby told the court due to a sudden death in the family and subsequent mental health issues, Anforth failed to report to the OIC of Warwick Police Station as per his bail conditions.

Mr Gatenby told the court his client’s hours of work also made it difficult for him to report during station opening hours.

“He knows he has some obstacles to overcome in relation to his more serious charges and has thrown himself into employment to repay compensation and distance himself from others,” Mr Gatenby said.

Magistrate Janice Crawford disqualified his licence for three months and fined him $250 for the breach of bail offences and a conviction was recorded.

The fraud related offences were set for sentence in the District Court later this month.

Originally published as Nicholas John Anforth to be sentenced in Warwick District Court over cash for demerit points scheme