Dirk Anthony Samuel Hertford was initially convicted in the Downing Centre Local Court on 4 April 2024 on one count of dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception under Section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). The Court convicted and sentenced the 49-year-old to 18 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of nine months. He served two months in jail.
Mr Hertford appealed to the District Court and was re-sentenced today to an Intensive Correction Order for 16 months including 10 months of home detention with an ankle bracelet and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in compensation as well as legal costs.
NSW Fair Trading prosecuted Mr Hertford after its investigation found he misappropriated $605,000 from a real estate company’s trust account between 1 January 2014 and 5 September 2014
All of Mr Hertford’s victims were compensated by the Property and Stock Compensation Fund.
Quotes attributable to Commissioner for Fair Trading Natasha Mann:
“NSW Fair Trading takes a proactive approach to protecting consumer rights and holding real estate agents to account.
“Anyone who has experienced problems with real estate agents managing their rental property is encouraged to contact NSW Fair Trading.
“As shown in this case, severe penalties apply for agents who take money from company trust accounts when not legally entitled to do so and abuse the trust clients have placed in them.”
