Michael John Connally,used 30 fictitious names and several forms of false identification - including licenses, payslips, learner driving permits

Michael John Connally, 36, appeared at a presentence hearing before the County Court today on 72 charges, including obtaining a financial advantage by deception, obtaining property by deception, theft and dishonestly obtaining a passport.
Eleven of the offences were committed while Connally was on bail and Judge Leslie Ross described his behaviour as "breathtaking in its scope''. The court heard that between October 2003 and May 2007 Connally used 30 fictitious names and several forms of false identification - including licenses, payslips, learner driving permits and a false passport - to apply for bank loans and credit cards, including one bank loan for $35,000.He used a false name to get a lease on two properties in where he did not pay rent, used a false cheque to buy plasma televisions worth $18,600, and on 23 occasions applied for loans using false documents.When nabbed by police Connally explained that he made false payslips and birth certificates on his computer and using photocopies of driving licenses.Defence lawyer Simon Zebrowski told the court that Connally had a long-standing gambling addiction and a loan shark had lent him $2000 at Oaks Day in 2002.He said the debt had climbed to $120,000 at the time of the offences.The loan shark had shown Connally a photo of his twin sons as a warning and beaten him so viciously that his nose was broken and he now wore false teeth, he said.Mr Zebrowski said Connally had good prospects of rehabilitation but Judge Ross disagreed: "Can you expect me, as someone who is reputed to have a little bit of common sense ... to have any faith in his plans?''Connally, who was originally charged with 400 offences, pleaded guilty to 69 charges of obtaining and attempting to obtain financial advantage and property by deception.He also pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one count of dishonestly obtaining an Australian passport