Martin Seeley will be sentenced Friday. To some he is just a pathetic con man whose ability to distinguish between reality and imagination was distinctly blurred. To others, Martin could be viewed as yet another victim of an Exclusive Brethren upbringing…

Seeley ‘addicted to the high life’

Depending on who you were, Martin George Seeley had a different tall story to tell.

A friend of the Packers, with $80 million in offshore investments, or the son of the chief executive of Myer Grace Brothers.

Either way, he had money to burn. But the luxury cars were not his, and the money did not exist. Instead, he stole cheques, cash and cars from business associates, motivated by greed, a Melbourne court was told.

Convicted in 2005 of 47 fraud-related charges, Seeley, now 43, was sentenced to five years’ jail. Out on parole two years later, he found it hard to get a job, and fell back into his old ways. He was charged with one count of theft, and three counts of obtaining property by deception.

The County Court was told that Seeley stole $230,000 in cars and cash from two car dealerships, but all had been recovered or repaid. Prosecutor Carolene Gwynn said: “It would appear that this offending … is an addiction to high living and is based on greed, not need.”

Ron Tait, for Seeley, said his client had been raised in the Exclusive Brethren, which contributed to his offending. Seeley will be sentenced on Friday.

Sarah-Jane Collins

Source:  The Age - Seeley ‘addicted to the high life’

In the case that brought his earlier jail term, the court was told that Seeley romped through $50,000 while fraudulently obtaining over $28 Million in luxury cars and property. Some might suggest that the Exclusive Brethren tactic of claiming $Millions in tax-exemption each year for their fortress-style ‘churches’ is also fraudulent - albeit on a far greater scale.

Fantasy ends in jail for persuasive liar

By Daniella Miletic
The Age, Australia

October 28, 2005

Sometimes Martin George Seeley said he was a financial adviser for media mogul Ted Turner. Other times, he was representing the Murdoch family, the Packers, even motor racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone.

And all over Melbourne businesses believed him. Luxury car salesmen trusted he would buy fleets of their best models and offered him test drives. Real estate agents sold him expensive houses only to be paid with rubber cheques. Friends lent him their credit cards and hotels offered him accommodation.

For more than a decade Seeley — described as a chronic liar whose stories were “fabulous, pitiful” — fooled them all.

Detective Senior Constable Peter Butland, who followed Seeley’s paper trail since a false auction bid in 2003, said he took more than 1000 luxury cars from dealers, returning them days and sometimes weeks late with a plethora of excuses.

Cars taken for “test drives” included latest model BMWs, Lexus luxury four-wheel-drives and Mercedes-Benz coupes. “There was barely a car dealership in metropolitan Melbourne that hadn’t had dealings with him. Everyone knew of him,” Detective Butland said. “He was so convincing and persistent.”

Seeley’s gift of the gab, coupled with a financial knowledge from a stint as a stockbroker, made him convincing.

The County Court heard that from 1993 until 2004, Seeley, 41, fraudulently obtained more than $28 million worth of cars and properties. The luxuries were short-lived and Seeley kept little — an estimated $50,000. Using his real name, Seeley told dealers he was interested in buying cars on behalf of famous businessmen, then would leave a rubber cheque and return the car late. In total, he had the luxury cars for 72 days.

Seeley was arrested in 2003. On the day he was released on bail, he took a Mercedes on a “test drive” and signed for a property in San Remo.

He pleaded guilty to 50 fraud charges including theft and obtaining property by deception.

In sentencing, Judge Roland Williams said: “There has been little or no gain for you. It has been more like a fantasy joy-ride … It’s over and you have nothing to show for it”.

He sentenced Seeley to five years’ jail with a non-parole term of 2¼ years.

Source: The Age - Fantasy ends in jail for persuasive liar

Seeley had the community up in arms - perhaps another Exclusive Brethren trait?

Beware Martin Seeley

We recently received a warning regarding a man by the name of Martin Seeley that we thought we should pass on.

According to Greg Wallace of Ripponlea Mitsubishi, this person is best described as “a serial psychotic defrauder”.

Last year Seeley was charged and jailed for over 100 offences relating to deception, fraud, bounced cheques and obtaining goods by false pretences.

Apparently he has been recently released from jail. His deceptions covered many walks of life and have included the false acquisition of real estate, and more often motor vehicles.

He will present at your dealership and appear perfectly plausible and acceptable.

He is 5ft8 (173cm), neat, tidy in appearance, Caucasian, of medium build, well spoken, and for all appearances someone who you would do business with.

His driver’s license will be in his name and it will record as his address a home in Black Rock. This is not his correct address, it is however the address of a couple who have had their identities corrupted and their lives made hell by Seeley. Greg Wallace says Seeley completely ruined his 2003 Christmas.

You should inform your sales staff of Seeley and do not allow any dealing to occur with him whatsoever. Repeat: nothing, nil, zilch, no test drive, get out and call the police.

Please feel free to pass this on to every one in the industry.

Web: Community warning dated October 2006