Conman to get chance

A CORIO man has admitted tricking banks and phone companies with fake identity documents to feed his drug and gambling habits.

One of Paule Petreski’s victims was slugged with almost $11,000 debt after repeatedly using his stolen credit card and opening accounts in his name.

Another was surprised to learn an iPhoneX had been ordered on his account and collected from his post office.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard Petreski picked it up using an ID card in the man’s name but with his photo on it.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Scott Bell said when police raided the Petreski family home in September they found another two falsified drivers’ licences in his room.

Both had the defendant’s photo but the original owner’s name and personal details had been retained.

Four months earlier the man was pulled over while driving in North Geelong, but told police he had no identification on him.

Sen-Constable Bell said a wallet found in the car contained three bank cards and a driver’s licence that did not belong to Petreski, and he also had photos on his phone of another man’s bank documents.

Petreski, 29, pleaded guilty to more than 25 charges yesterday, mostly dishonesty offences, such as obtaining property by deception, theft, using false documents and handling stolen goods.

There were also multiple counts of driving unlicensed and counts of offending while on bail.

The court heard the qualified electrician was “ashamed and embarrassed about what he’s done” in a year-long crime spree sparked by his descent into depression, drug and gambling addictions.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said he needed to acknowledge the impact his crimes had on the victims, and even on his own family, including his mother and father, who were at court yesterday.

“While your plea was going ahead your father looked despondent, and your mother was crying,” Ms McGarvie said.

“It seems to me they’re absolutely horrified to find themselves in court, supporting you.”

Although Petreski still uses ice, she said his lack of prior convictions convinced her to give him a chance to shake his vices on a corrections order.

“(You) need supervision to get back to the life you had before you started gambling, using drugs and being dishonest,” she said.

“If you don’t comply, or reoffend, bring your overnight bag (to court) because you’ll be going through that door,” she added, pointing to the door to the prison cells.

Petreski was put on a twoyear corrections order, and will need to complete 240 hours of unpaid community work while also completing drug counselling and programs for gambling addiction.

His licence was cancelled, and he was disqualified from driving for nine months.