An Adelaide grandfather who faked real estate investments in the US and Papua New Guinea to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in "premeditated and shameless" offending has been jailed for six years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Robert Wayne Collins, 77, was found guilty of seven counts of financial deception between late 2012 and February 2015.
Collins faked bank emails in order to scam victims who believed they were investing in property.
He also operated fake international bank accounts, claiming to invest in properties in the US and projects in PNG.
In 2013, one victim invested $100,000 of his inheritance with Collins. The con man spent all but $4000 within five days.
Throughout 2014, Collins scammed a group of investors of $286,000 while pretending to invest in US-based properties.
He told them each couple was required to pay $50,000 to his company in order to invest.
In late 2014, he spent $182,000 of these funds at Mercedes Benz, purchasing two cars.
A career criminal, Collins was first jailed 47 years ago in 1973, for obtaining a bank cheque for $5000 while pretending to be someone else.
He appeared in court several times throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, charged with a range of offences such as fraud, operating under false pretences and deception.
In sentencing remarks released on Monday, District Court Judge Liesl Chapman described Collins' scams as "premeditated, calculated, shameless and determined."
"There is not a drop of confidence that you will depart from this type of dishonest activity ever," she said.
Judge Chapman acknowledged positive character references, however a psychological report and previous criminal history showed Collins had little hope of reconciling his actions.
She set a non-parole period of four years.
Australian Associated Press
