Jail time extended for fake ID producer

Raging ice habit drives life of crime

HIGHTON con artist and former real estate agent Andrew Ng will spend more time in jail after being sentenced for his latest dishonest crimes.

The 29-year-old used stolen bank and identity cards to make bogus loan applications and also falsified documents for others to feed his raging ice addiction.

With convictions for deceptions, burglaries and drug possession every year since 2013, Ng was jailed in April for dishonesty offences, pleaded guilty to new crimes in September and was sentenced yesterday.

His current stretch behind bars was extended from a maximum term of 18 months to two years and nine months by County Court Judge Paul Grant.

“This is not low-level offending. You were in the business of producing false documents for reward,” Judge Grant said.

“Your counsel told me you did this to fund your drug addiction.”

The court heard an accused Geelong drug trafficker, who is currently awaiting trial, was one of the customers for whom Ng created fake documents — such as tax and bank papers, Justice of the Peace forms and pay slips.

The defendant also made two loan applications using ID cards and information snared during an April 2016 car breakin.

Just six days after the theft, he used the victim’s details to secure a $15,000 credit card, which he then overdrew by almost $1300.

Six months later, he used the same identity to pocket $5000 credit from the Bank of Melbourne.

Judge Grant said that facility was overdrawn within days, as Ng paid veterinary bills for his dog, and spent up on groceries and hardware items.

The judge said a car stereo stolen with a wallet from the car in April 2016 was among the evidence police found at Ng’s home when they raided it 20 months later in January this year.

Ng has been in custody since that day, and pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, one of attempting to do so, a count of handling stolen goods and 11 charges of making a false document.

Judge Grant said Ng was a hardworking member of society who admitted dabbling in recreational drugs in his early 20s. But when the defendant’s girlfriend took her own life in 2012, his life descended into drug addiction and crime. He served his first jail term in 2015.

“If anything was to cause you to pause and reflect on your future, that sentence should have done so. The fact it didn’t indicates the potent nature of the addictive qualities of the drug ice,” Judge Grant said.

Intelligent with good family support, Ng had the potential to reform his life, the judge said, but the man’s repeated offending and drug habits caused him serious reservations about Ng’s ability to do so.

With nine months of his prison term already served, and his non-parole period set at 18 months, Ng could potentially get out of jail late next year.

For mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.