Postie’s scam stuck in mud

A MAN who faked a burglary after badly bogging his ute has faced court for attempted insurance fraud.

Jordan James Maher, 22, was camping at Cungulla, southeast of Townsville, on Boxing Day, when he bogged his Toyota HiLux while looking for firewood.

After learning his CGU Insurance policy would not cover him for “flooding”, he reported the car stolen to police.

Maher pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday to attempted fraud.

Prosecutor Codie Rowe said police contacted CGU, which said if Maher had been honest about the car being bogged, he would have successfully had the $ 30,000 claim paid out.

Mr Rowe said Maher phoned police on December 30 and told them his car had been stolen overnight from his partner’s Condon home.

He told police the car was left locked and secured, but unknown offenders had entered through the laundry door and stolen the keys.

“On January 3, police located the vehicle in a secluded area of the beach access near Cungalla,” he said.

“It appeared that the car had been bogged in a mangrove area and then towed.”

On January 23, a witness tipped off police that Maher had bogged the car himself.

“Police became aware of a message that the witness received from ( Maher) on December 27 at 3.25pm, which said ‘ Yo bud, you still keen to pull Hilux out?’,” he said.

Police searched Maher’s home, seized his phone and interviewed him. Maher admitted he had bogged the car in a creek about 9pm on December 26 while driving with friends.

“The group walked to where they could get phone reception and arranged for a pick- up,” he said.

Defence solicitor Katrina Hynes said Maher was a postman with Australia Post.

“He’s pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity … he’s cooperated with police,” she said.

Ms Hynes said Maher owed $ 25,000 on the car.

Magistrate Ross Mack said Maher had been influenced by his father and “his stupidity” was to blame.

“All this could have been avoided, and you could have still had the car, a replacement car, had you played by the rules,” he said. “You chose to be clever and here you are in court, facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison.”

Maher was ordered to do 200 hours community service, with no conviction recorded.