An award-winning plumber accused of being a ‘fake tradie’ has been charged with a raft of fraud-related charges, Daily Mail Australia can reveal – after authorities warned Australians not to seek out his work.
Duanne Hevers, a one-time Master Plumber Indigenous Apprentice of the Year winner, has been charged with 21 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, after clients and former bosses went to police.
Hevers, 25, has been charged with operating without a licence, practising deception by pretending to be employed and ordering materials using a business account that belonged to a former employer, court documents said.
He has also been charged with failing to complete agreed-upon repairs and providing false and misleading bank details that he was not authorised to by his employer.
Duanne Hevers is subject of a public warning by NSW Fair Trading after facing 21 counts of fraud-related charges
No longer employed, Duanne Hevers is subject of a public warning by NSW Fair Trading
Hevers hasn’t entered a plea to any charges, and did not appear at Parramatta Local Court during an appearance this last week.
The maximum penalty for dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception is 10 years in prison.
However, if found guilty Hevers is unlikely to serve lengthy jail sentences, with the charges being heard in the local court.
In March, the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner, Natasha Mann, warned Australians: ‘Do not deal with Duanne Hevers’.
He had been trading in NSW without a license under the business name Fairwater Plumbing, she said.
NSW Fair Trading was concerned that Mr Hevers may be seeking to trade without a licence,’ an official warning stated, citing complaints from customers.
‘Consumers have complained that Mr Hevers seeks residential building work for which a licence is required and makes false and misleading statements to obtain money from them,’ a statement said.
Hevers enjoyed an Island holiday with his girlfriend in June
Duanne (pictured right) and his girlfriend took a helicopter trip during their island holiday
In NSW, a license is required for all specialist work such as electrical, plumbing and air conditioning regardless of the cost.
Further, a license is required for all other residential work valued at more than $5,000.
While facing a raft of charges, photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show Hevers and his girlfriend enjoying a holiday in the Whitsundays in June, a lavish trip that included helicopter rides.
Hevers is due to face court on November 13.
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EXCLUSIVE: Baby-faced alleged ‘fake tradie’ – who won a big plumbing award and then went on lavish holidays – suffers major blow
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