Conman went on one-man rampage

PRISON: Dean Goodall, 22, was sentenced to jail for dishonesty. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 291113BF9

A warning has been given to anyone who has contact with a man who ripped off thousands of dollars from motels, Trade Me sellers and his own family.

Dean Goodall, 22, appeared in the Rotorua District Court before Judge Chris McGuire on Friday for sentencing on 20 dishonesty charges he had accumulated throughout New Zealand. These included scamming three Rotorua motels out of more than $4400 with one stay lasting up to three weeks.

According to the police summary of facts, his offending occurred between August 2012 and June this year in what was described in court as a "one-man crime spree".

He had breached his intensive supervision sentence for previous dishonesty convictions last July before committing a burglary in Auckland.

"On February 20, you caused a loss to ASB Bank, when you ripped off your own brother by raiding his bank account after obtaining his password."

Goodall also used Trade Me to gain access to a Mazda, two Mercedes-Benzes, a Mitsubishi Lancer and an Isuzu by agreeing to buy them and then failing to transfer the money into the vendors' accounts.

Goodall stayed at the Novotel Rotorua for three nights and BK's Motor Lodge, Rotorua, for one night. He also stayed in motels in Napier, Taupo, Hamilton and Manukau, fleeing without paying each time.

From May 31 to June 21 this year, he stayed at Rose Court Motel on Fenton St where he racked up a bill of $3976 which included food.

"You told the motel ahead of time that you were an executive of a company and that your son needed accommodation and a meal allowance of $200 a week," Judge McGuire said.

The court heard extracts from victim impact statements.

"When he swore on his daughter's grave that he wouldn't rip me off, I believed him." wrote one victim.

"What sort of parent would do that? It's difficult for me to trust people again."

Another wrote: "I don't know how he can live with himself, stooping so low."

Goodall was supported in court by his partner and members of his church.

"While I applaud people supporting you, I am warning them to treat you with a great deal of care because right now they are at risk that you could con them as well," Judge McGuire said.

"I am very cautious about everything I hear and read about you and I suggest everyone else adopt the same approach in case they get conned."

Judge McGuire did not order any reparation because Goodall owed more than $36,000 from previous convictions.

Goodall was sent to jail for two years and five months.