Forger's fast money

A man who studied criminology and public relations at university passed forged $100 notes to feed his amphetamine addiction, the NT Supreme Court heard yesterday.

The notes were made on a computer and colour printer.

Justin Lee Bellas, 29, left a trail of counterfeit notes on the run from Queensland from November 2003 until his arrest by NT police in Darwin on July 26 last year.

The court heard that on the way he made amphetamines for himself and his girlfriend in a small "travelling laboratory".

In Queenland he passed 32 $100 notes, mainly for food and accommodation and in the Territory another four, mainly for fuel.

In the NT he defrauded businesses of more than $6700 using at least three credit cards belonging to other people.

A printer and scanner worth $1900, used to make more $100 notes, was the largest purchase.

Bellas made counterfeit $100 notes with a face value of more than $78,000. He pleaded guilty to 25 Territory and 49 federal charges which, together, took about 50 minutes to read.

Justice Sally Thomas accepted the hand-up of pages of prosecution facts to save reading them on to the court record.

The judge adjourned sentencing to next Friday, formally remanding Bellas in custody.

Territory Crown prosecutor John Adams said the seriousness of the offences warranted more time in jail.

Federal prosecutor Natalie Scattini said it was an elaborate, premeditated scheme to defraud businesses.

"A large number of people have been deceived and suffered signifcant loss," she said.

Defence counsel Gerard Bryant said Bellas started using amphetamines while at university to help him hold down a job and study.

"The common thread which runs through these offences is Mr Bellas's debilitating addiction to the drug amphetamine," he said.

"It is somewhat ironic that his arrest came as something of a relief," Mr Bryant said.

"He was using 0.3g of amphetamines every four to six hours -- an addiction he was unable to arrest."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 11 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283