By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man has been accused of conning thousands of dollars from customers buying air-conditioners and commercial fridges in Cranbourne, Hampton Park and Dandenong.
Neil Turner, 66, of Dandenong, faced charges of dishonestly receiving more than $14,000 from various customers in 2014-’16, according to court documents filed at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
He was also charged with stealing a $4000 Hiace van in Dandenong, stealing a $1000 commercial dishwasher in Blackburn and assault with a metal bar in Cranbourne.
Among the allegations was deceptively taking $4500 from a Dandenong customer after offering to build, draw up plans and quote for a steam room on a rural property in 2015.
He also allegedly deceptively received $2500 from another customer after advertising a reconditioned cool room on the Gumtree trading website in 2014.
Turner also allegedly took $2240 for purporting to sell two display fridges in Frankston in 2014, and a $2700 deposit for a commercial freezer, three open display cases and a produce fridge in Patterson Lakes in 2015.
He also deceptively received a $1600 deposit for two compressors in Dandenong in 2016, $700 for a re-conditioned commercial refrigerator in Dandenong in 2015 and $600 deposit for selling and installing an air- conditioner in Cranbourne.
Turner also faced three charges of producing false documents to would-be customers in 2016.
The case had been adjourned several times since September, without even going through the first stage of a summary case conference, the court was told on 27 February.
The latest adjournment was sought by Turner due to his wife’s cancer treatments, the court was told.
Magistrate Barry Schultz told Turner, who was representing himself, that the matter had to be “progressed in some way”.
Turner was bailed for a mention hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 6 April.
