Roofer avoids jail for scamming $100k
A Christchurch roofer who defrauded clients of more than
$100,000 which he spent on gambling, travelling and clubbing has avoided jail.
Macaulay Oliver Marchant,
25, was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court last week after pleading guilty to three charges of obtaining by deception, including one representative charge, another of incurring a debt while his company was insolvent, and a charge of failing to keep accounting records.
Marchant started his company Essential Roofing in August 2017. Police started receiving complaints between December 3, 2018 and February 19, 2019, with a combined $106,000 put into Marchant’s bank account.
During this time, Marchant would routinely complain he was unable to complete the work that had been agreed on and paid for due to being snowed under, shortstaffed or unfavourable weather conditions.
‘‘Yet after giving these excuses to one complainant, he would accept a new job and payment from the next complainant,’’ the summary of facts said.
Marchant often gave complainants short timeframes to complete the work, however never met those commitments.
He often required a deposit be paid prior to work being done then would do very little or none of the agreed work after receiving payment. In most cases he gave excuses for additional funds required above the initially agreed on work.
‘‘This pattern of accepting jobs and requiring payment followed by excuses repeated itself with every complainant,’’ the summary said.
While Marchant was raking in money from the complainants he spent $130,000 at gambling establishments and withdrawals at ATMs or banks.
There was also a large number of purchases not added to the total from bars and nightclubs along with dining and travelling.
The complainants included people from Canterbury, Marlborough Sounds, Mosgiel, and Greytown.
One Christchurch man paid Marchant $20,500 for work on his roof in December 2018, however all that was done was scaffolding erected, a substandard waterblast clean of the roof and the delivery of half of the paint required to complete the work.
The scaffolders subsequently removed the scaffolding due to lack of contact with Marchant. The homeowner received numerous excuses as to why the work was not carried out.
Meanwhile, another Christchurch homeowner paid $17,000 for some work on their roof. No work was ever carried out. She received numerous excuses as to why the work was not done.
The Press spoke to Marchant last year about his trail of offending. At the time he promised to complete all outstanding jobs.
Marchant said he had an elite membership with TAB and some of his bets included $15,000 on a horse race and $10,000 on a sports bet. The money he gambled was the profit on his jobs.
‘‘I had a million dollar job last year so I made about $300,000 . . . I gambled it all. Some people have a P habit, I had a gambling habit,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m not a scumbag ... I’m not running away. However, I put myself in a pickle, I’m behind and the only thing I’m worried about now is sorting it.’’
At sentencing last week Judge Tom Gilbert said Marchant appeared to be ‘‘getting on top of’’ alcohol and drug-related issues.
‘‘I think you do have a good understanding of the impact your actions have had on your victims,’’ Judge Gilbert said.
Marchant was sentenced to 11 months’ home detention and ordered to repay more than
$140,000 with a $10,000 lump sum paid immediately. The rest was to be paid in weekly instalments of
$350.