Christopher Edwards, 41, of Young, appeared via Audio-Visual Link in Young Local Court on Tuesday from Junee Correctional Facility where he will remain until at least February 2019.
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The former 2YYY presenter and greyhound trainer was sentenced by Magistrate Michael O’Brien to 12 months in prison – nine months non-parole – and ordered to pay reparations of $11,900 to the woman he had sold a greyhound puppy to.
Appearing on the screen in the court room Edwards looked haggard as his solicitor Mr Vo presented submissions to Magistrate O’Brien.
According to Mr Vo his client accepted the conviction Edwards received in the middle of April when he failed to appear in court. At that time Magistrate O’Brien had issued a warrant for Edwards arrest. Last Thursday May 17 Edwards handed himself in to local police and was refused bail. He has been in custody at Junee Correctional Facility since.
During submissions Mr Vo said he was instructed by Edwards to ask Magistrate O’Brien to take his handing himself in to police into consideration.
There was some confusion as Mr Vo was to ask for an adjournment only to have Edwards ask Magistrate O’Brien to deal with the matter to completion.
The prosecutor said while the facts indicated the fraud amount was in excess of $35,000 it was only $11,900 to be sought as restitution for the victim.
“In short the dog he was racing under the name of Brax was in fact another dog,” the prosecution said.
Edwards cut into submissions to say that he had given the dog away when he left the greyhound industry and had won $10,000 of the claimed $35,340 in prizemoney with the person he had given it away to.
The prosecution argued that it shouldn’t matter if he gave the dog away or sold the dog and it continued to win after, the fact of the matter was that it was still the same dog that this woman was supposed to own.
“Clearly there is a recirculating issue where you claim benefits while others suffer a loss,” Magistrate O’Brien said to Edwards.
Magistrate O’Brien went on to say that between his previous convictions for Edwards needed to accept responsibility for his behaviour.
The prosecution submitted that Edwards is clearly a person who is in the know, “he’s in the game, it’s an act of deliberate deceit.”
According to the prosecution the dog has still not been located.
“By certain actions of the defendant we’re now missing a dog,” the prosecution said.
Magistrate O’Brien agreed that Edwards record had done him no favours in this matter.
“The threshold has been crossed that means that a custodial penalty is the only penalty appropriate,” Magistrate O’Brien said.
According to the agreed upon police facts submitted to the court Edwards was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception after he deceived a woman that purchased a greyhound pup from him that he was to train for her. After he discovered the animal could race he cut all ties with the woman and began racing Beegumbah Rumba which went on to win $35,340 in prizemoney.
Police submitted in the facts that the dog had tested positive to a prohibited substance in 2017 and Edwards said the dog had since broken down. Police also said he has been charged with a number of frauds in the past.
