News Service from House Harris

Qld: Art dealer avoids jail after fleecing buyers of $93k

BRISBANE, Jan 8 AAP - A prominent Brisbane art dealer has avoided jail despite fleecing two men of $93,000 in a scheme that hinged on selling works she did not own.

Rosemary Hassall, 75, was given a three-year suspended sentence on Thursday in the Brisbane District Court after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud with circumstances of aggravation and two counts of passing a valueless cheque.

The court was told Hassall persuaded two men to embark on a venture in which they would buy art from her collection and she would sell the works on for a substantial profit, in which they would all take a share.

The men forked out a total of $93,000 for the scheme.

However, the court was told Hassall did not actually own the works, and she used the money given to her by the men to pay off a personal debt.

To placate one of the men when she was unable to repay him, she gave him an artwork that belonged to someone else.

The work was later seized by police and returned to the rightful owner.

Following her dealings with the two men, Hassall was approached by a woman who wanted her to sell an artwork by 19th century Australian artist Conrad Martens.

The court was told Hassall sold the work but presented the vendor with two valueless cheques for a total of $6,000.

Another Brisbane art dealer later reimbursed the woman.

Hassall was later declared bankrupt and is now unable to repay any of her debts.

Defence counsel Chris Wilson urged Judge Hugh Botting not to send his client to jail, arguing she had led an "exemplary life" until her fraudulent behaviour between March 2004 and November 2005.

Mr Wilson said Hassall had developed an enviable reputation within the art industry and had worked as a valuer for state and commonwealth governments.

He also argued her guilty plea and her age should be taken into account when determining an appropriate sentence.

Judge Botting described Hassall's actions as "robbing Peter to pay Paul" and accepted her behaviour had destroyed her reputation and career.

He made no order for reparations.