Angus Dick, 45, was sentenced in the Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of fraudulently obtaining payments by deception.
He was convicted and placed on an 18 month Community Corrections Order with 200 hours of unpaid community work.
The court heard Dick received a total of $74,744 in weekly compensation payments between April 2020 and December 2021, after making a claim for a back injury sustained while working as a cooling system service technician.
A WorkSafe investigation found Dick was paid by numerous clients for escort services during this time and had also worked as a cleaner for a hotel, a construction company and a resort between July and December 2021.
He failed to declare any of the work activity and continued to submit certificates of capacity stating that he had not worked throughout the time he received payments.
WorkSafe Executive Director Insurance Roger Arnold said there was no excuse for trying to play the system for personal gain.
“Failing to declare work while continuing to receive compensation payments is fraud, plain and simple,” Mr Arnold said.
“This is a serious crime and anyone trying to take advantage of the workers compensation scheme for their own profit will face serious consequences.”
