A Tasmanian man who scammed farmers with promises of hay during an extended dry period has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Among other charges, Robert Donald Blackberry, 32, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.
During sentencing on Tuesday, Magistrate Ken Stanton told the Launceston Magistrates Court Blackberry had engaged in “sustained, blatant lies” mostly between July 2021 and May 2025.
The sum of his attempts comes in at $48,000 or greater.
Blackberry’s behaviour included claiming money for truck driving he never did, claiming costs for truck repairs that were not undertaken, and taking $13,500 for trailers and vehicles not delivered.
He also took payments from multiple people for hay he never delivered and lied about why he did not.
“[Blackberry has a] complete and utter disregard for the law and the requirements for integrity in interactions with business,” Magistrate Stanton said.
In recent years, Tasmania faced some of its driest conditions on record, making feed scarcer and more expensive, forcing some farmers into difficult and sometimes heartbreaking decisions about what to do with their starving animals.
Animal feed has been scarce and more expensive in recent years. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Victims lost ‘significant’ money
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Stanton regarded Blackberry’s guilty pleas but said they were likely a “utilitarian” move for a lesser punishment, and the sustained nature of the offending had to be reflected.
He also said there needed to be justice for those affected who had lost “significant” amounts of money.
Blackberry has a non-parole period of six months.
Blackberry’s sentence also covers four stealing charges committed with a 15-year-old, in “persistent, brazen” offending that showed a “high level of dishonesty”.
He is currently serving a two-year sentence for indecent assault committed in 2021.
The latest sentencing will have the cumulative effect of three years in jail.
Some farmers have faced difficult decisions about what to do with their starving animals. (ABC News: Meg Powell)