A MAN who bought more than $4000-worth of gardening equipment using dishonoured cheques will be given until August to prove he can repay the funds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wade Stephen Gudgeon, 40 of Cultowa Lane Billimari, appealed his intensive corrections order in Orange District Court on Monday for two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, asking for the home detention provision to be removed.
The two offences occurred in 2016 - one at Petrie's Mitre 10 on September 15 where he spent $1567 and the other at Central West Mowers and Chainsaws on October 21 where he spent $2516.
- READ ALSO: Petrie's Mitre 10 rebrands as Mitre 10 Trade
The cheques were made out on behalf of Gudgeon's business, Northern Breeze Airconditioning, which was later deregistered.
On both occasions, the cheques were dishonoured and reported to police.
Police said during conversations with Gudgeon in November, he maintained he had no knowledge of the amounts owed.
He committed to repaying $60 a fortnight to Mitre 10, but only made three payments.
Central West Mowers and Chainsaws managed to make contact with Gudgeon, who said he had neither the funds nor the equipment.
He later returned $150.
Gudgeon gave evidence on the day, saying he could find work in traffic control, but not if he was subject to home detention.
He told the court he understood using the cheques was not a victimless crime.
Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Sarah Tait said those types of offences could cripple small businesses and given Gudgeon's past dishonesty, he needed to prove he could return the money.
"It's putting jobs at risk - an ICO with home detention was appropriate," she said.
The matter will return for sentence.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...