Conman brags of crimes

A SERIAL conman, who pretended to be a soldier and duped a cancer patient out of $4000, racked up nearly a $15,000 bill and then boasted to police about his crimes.

“He’d be employee of the year if being a crook and a fraudster was a legitimate occupation … he’d be winning all sorts of awards,” Cairns Magistrate Joe Pinder said.

Terrence Gordon Watt impersonated a member of the Australian Army at numerous hotels and motels across the state, including the Cairns Holiday Lodge and the Comfort Inn Discovery Cairns.

In June last year, while staying in Brisbane, he talked his way into the room of a man who was being treated for cancer, and stole his wallet containing $4000 cash.

“Watt … might consider himself quite thankful that he’s only facing a charge of stealing,” Sergeant Matt Rose said.

Watt, now 48, whose past is littered with dishonesty offences dating back more than a decade, has pleaded guilty to eight charges including fraud and stealing in the last few years.

Sgt Rose said Watt had reoffended while on parole or suspended sentences since 2010 and described his interviews with police as “gleeful boasting about the endeavours that he managed to get away with”.

Defence solicitor Kevin De Bonis said his client claimed he had received a $200,000 payout last year and was able to cover any restitution.

“The statement that he is a persistent offender … is a gross understatement,” Magistrate Pinder said.

The sentence was adjourned until a date in late March so that Watt could organise the restitution payment.