A former Mornington Peninsula landscaper has been sentenced to prison after conning a 69-year-old pensioner out of nearly $200,000, leaving her virtually penniless in her final years.
Jarrad Garth, 43, was sentenced in the County Court to two years and two months behind bars, with a non-parole period of 20 months, after pleading guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Preyed on Vulnerable Pensioner
The court heard Garth exploited the trust of Suzanne Reeves, a 69-year-old retiree living in a Bittern village. Garth had met Reeves through her son Patrick, who was a drinking companion at The Heritage hotel in Balnarring.
After Reeves sold her Balnarring home in early 2020, she had more than $343,000 in her bank account. The court heard Garth began approaching her for money under the guise of financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He requested funds for rent, food, vehicle repairs and alleged business expenses.
By February 2021, Reeves’ bank balance had plummeted to just $39.98. She died in 2022 before seeing justice served.
Cycle of Manipulation
In a statement to police prior to her death, Reeves said she initially felt “lonely” and was happy to help Garth, but that things “got out of control.” Garth repeatedly told her he needed more money to repay debts, creating a vicious cycle of dependency.
It was Reeves’ daughter, Amy Kitch, who uncovered the deception after reviewing bank statements and alerted authorities. Garth was arrested in January 2022 after moving interstate to Coffs Harbour.
Court Labels Actions “Predatory”
Judge Angela Ellis described Garth’s conduct as “predatory,” saying he deliberately cultivated a relationship with Reeves to exploit her sympathies. The court also heard Garth was already serving a community corrections order for similar offending at the time.
Despite receiving gambling winnings, Garth made no attempt to repay the money he had taken.
“This case tragically highlights how older Australians can be vulnerable to financial exploitation, particularly by those they believe are friends,” Judge Ellis remarked.
Garth will be eligible for parole in 20 months.
Only 26 months when he already had previous. Should have been a minimum of 5 years. What a flog, hope he gets his just deserts behind bars.