An unlicensed builder has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for taking more than $600,000 from clients and spending it on the pokies, a court has heard.
Key points:
- Mark Anthony Webster was sentence to seven and a half years in prison
- The bankrupt and unlicensed builder defrauded small businesses out of $611,000
- Webster was given a non-parole period of two years
Mark Anthony Webster today pleaded guilty to nine charges in the Southport District Court including fraud, failure to disclose bankruptcy and dealing with another entity’s identity.
Throughout proceedings, the 59-year-old smiled, winked and gave a thumbs up from the dock to his family sitting in the court’s public gallery.
He was remanded in custody at his last court appearance after failing to show up to his previous four sentencing hearings.
The court heard between 2017 and 2021, Webster defrauded 11 victims across south-east Queensland out of a combined $611,000.
The father of three was contracted to complete shop fit-outs for restaurants and retail stores after responding to ads online.
He used aliases and would provide clients with a false business name, ABN and QBCC registration number.
The court head Webster “pressured” small business owners into making payments for work he knew would never get done and used the money to fuel his alcoholism and gambling addiction.
Victims disappointed by outcome
Defence barrister Martin Longhurst said Webster’s drinking habit consisted of seven or eight schooners at the pub followed by two six packs at home.
Webster has also pleaded guilty to depositing $39,000 into a new bank account weeks before declaring bankruptcy for the second time in 2015, keeping it out of reach of creditors.
There is an outstanding warrant for his arrest in New South Wales, where he was convicted of scamming another business out of $44,600 while he was on bail following his arrest in Queensland in August 2021.
Gold Coast business owners Chotikrit Luebandidkul and Patchamon Pisuttisopon paid Webster $65,013 to do the fit out of their Thai restaurant in Benowa, but only a few metal frames were installed before he stopped responding to their calls.
The couple took out a loan for the same amount to pay a new builder, but after working two jobs seven days per week they were forced to sell the business last year when they could no longer keep up with their debt repayments.
They said they felt “stupid” when they realised they had been scammed and labelled the sentence “disappointing”.
“It could have been more but I’m trying to be the bigger person,” Ms Pisuttisopon told the ABC outside court.
“There shouldn’t be any excuse for what he did since it was so intentional. He has done it so many times.
“At least there was justice.”
Judge Deborah Holliday found Webster would not have the financial capacity to pay restitution to eight of the 11 businesses.
Mr Luebandidkul and Ms Pisuttisopon will not see any of the money they lost.
Webster will be required to serve two years of the seven-and-a-half year sentence. He will be eligible for parole in 2025.