Toowoomba tradesman Andrew Paul Macey pleads guilty to fraud, possessing and receiving tainted property

A Gladstone man who turned to a life of crime after the breakdown of his marriage and career was forced to flee to Toowoomba after his criminal peers turned on him, a court has been told.

Andrew Paul Macey leaving the Toowoomba Courthouse on May 6, 2025, after pleading guilty to a spate of dishonesty offences he committed in the Gladstone region.

A Toowoomba court has been told a scaffolder was forced to flee the Gladstone region after he got caught up in criminal activity after the breakdown of his marriage and career.

A warrant was issued for Andrew Paul Macey’s arrest in April after he failed to show up to Gladstone court or report to police 11 times, while on bail for fraud and dishonesty related charges.

The 45-year-old recently handed himself into police in Toowoomba, where he was granted bail and given a date to plead guilty to his crimes.

During his sentence before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 6, the court was told Macey was caught selling stolen tools at a number of pawnshops in Gladstone, pocketing about $790.

Andrew Paul Macey leaving the Toowoomba courthouse on May 6, 2025, after pleading guilty to a spate of dishonesty offences he committed in the Gladstone region.

Police prosecutor Alistair Windsor said about $10,000 worth of tools, some of which were sold by Macey, were stolen from a Boyne Island address in January.

Sergeant Windsor said on March 7, police were patrolling Tannum Sands when they spotted Macey and another man in a car at a boat ramp.

They were detained, with officers finding more stolen tools and a taser.

Sergeant Windsor said Macey’s behaviour was concerning given his somewhat limited criminal history, and queried the motivation behind the offences.

Solicitor Matt Gemmell said Macey’s problem began when he fell into a bad crowd who introduced him to drugs after he stopped working due to a medical condition.

He said Macey racked up so many bail breach charges because the relationship turned sour and threatening, to the point Macey lost his house and car, and was forced to flee the area.

Mr Gemmell said a messy divorce also contributed to Macey’s decline.

Macey pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud, possessing tainted property, receiving tainted property, possessing a taser, and breaching his bail conditions 11 times.

He was placed on an eight-month probation order to help with his rehabilitation.

No convictions were recorded.