Fraudster steals more than $220,000 over a two-year crime spree after posing as a doctor in fake scrubs to steal cars from Gumtree advertisers
- Fake doctor pleaded guilty to stealing more than $220,000 over two-year period
- Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 25, has been sentenced to five years jail time
- His charges include six counts of stealing and one count of attempted fraud
A fraudster has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $220,000 over a two-year period after posing as a doctor so he could buy cars from Gumtree advertisers.
Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 25, was sentenced to five years jail time, which was suspended on Monday after he served two years and three months in pre-sentenced custody, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud, six counts of stealing and one count each of attempted fraud, forged documents and possessing child exploitation material.
Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 25 (pictured), was sentenced to five years jail, which was suspended on Monday after he served two years and three months in pre-sentenced custody
Strauch (pictured) pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud, six counts of stealing and one count each of attempted fraud, forged documents and possessing child exploitation material
Crown prosecutor Natalie Lima described Strauch as a deceptive person who masqueraded as a doctor and preyed upon people who trusted him.
‘He preyed upon the good will the public generally have towards doctors,’ Ms Lima said.
Ms Lima described how Strauch posed as a fake doctor when he replied to seven advertisements for second hand cars on the website Gumtree.
She said he would even visit the seller’s house dressed in scrubs, embroidered with his name, along with bogus receipts to say money had been transferred.
In total, Strauch stole more than $223,885 worth of cash and goods over a four-month crime spree, and he even pretended to perform a medical examination.
In addition to cars, he also tried to buy a range of goods including a TV, Blu-ray player, and subwoofer.
His first offending started in September 2016, when he met a man on the dating app Grindr and only stopped when he was arrested in December 2016, the court heard.
At the time, he told the man he was homeless, and after the man offered him a place to stay, Strauch drained his bank account of more then 100,000 over a week.
Strauch (pictured) stole more than $223,885 worth of cash and goods over a four-month crime spree
Strauch (pictured) was so convincing at pretending to be a doctor, he also managed to swindle $30,000 out of Surfers Paradise strip club Hollywood Showgirls
He stole seven cars in total during the crime spree, six of which were returned to their owners, while one was trashed and another found in Victoria.
The 25-year-old was so convincing at pretending to be a doctor, he also managed to swindle $30,000 out of Surfers Paradise strip club Hollywood Showgirls.
Ms Lima told the court Strauch even pretended to give a medical examination to an elderly woman with Parkinson’s disease.
He also purchased a laptop, which was later found to contain videos of child sexual abuse, the court heard.
His defence barrister Sarah Thompson claimed her client had a stroke at 21 and was suffering from mental health issues stemming from child abuse.
Ms Thompson said the 25-year-old planned to return to Western Australia to live with his mother.