Bail for roofer who allegedly swindled $275k from victims, including Tania Hird
A British national accused of running a roofing scam that caught 11 victims, including the wife of AFL great James Hird, will return to live with his family in Clayton after a Supreme Court judge granted him bail.
Mark Burton, 23, is charged with scamming victims out of about $275,000 within months of arriving in Australia on a tourist visa in March.
Tania Hird.Credit:Justin McManus
Police allege elderly victims were among those the syndicate targeted. Two other men – one Burton’s teenage brother – were also charged.
Burton took his bid for freedom to the Supreme Court on Tuesday after earlier being refused bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court when police raised concerns he was a flight risk after being arrested at Melbourne Airport in July.
Justice Michael Croucher said due to the complexities of the case, and the potential for the pool of victims to grow to 41, it was unlikely the case would reach trial for up to three years.
In granting Burton bail, Croucher said those delays meant the British national could be kept in custody longer than any possible prison term.
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier heard Tania Hird was among Burton’s alleged victims and had been swindled out of almost $33,000 for a simple gutter repair on the Toorak mansion she shares with her husband.
Burton is charged with 11 counts of obtaining property by deception and one of dealing in the proceeds of crime relating to the roofing and guttering business, Top-Rated Roofing, he established within days of arriving in Australia.
As part of his bail conditions, Burton must reside at his Clayton home, where his wife and two young children remain, report to police twice a day, and abide by a curfew. He is also prohibited from attending points of international departure.
The matter will return to court in December.
The other two co-accused men remain on bail.
More to come.
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