Trusted friend who defrauded hundreds of thousands from "father figure" to live the high life jailed for five years A FRAUDSTER who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a "father figure" to buy gym equipment, luxury cars, and flights has been sentenced to at least five years" jail. Sivakulendran Selvakulalingam, 42, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to 13 counts of dishonestly dealing with a document and 14 counts of deception between 2011-2012. The court heard Selvakulalingam's offending amounted about $650,000 in benefits. In sentencing today, Chief Judge Geoffrey Muecke said Selvakulalingam had repeatedly used John Clyde Bryant's identity to secure loans and had spent thousands on Mr Bryant's credit card. Chief Judge Muecke said that among the purchases on Mr Bryant's credit card was a $2000 dinner at a city restaurant to celebrate Selvakulalingam's 40th birthday, which Mr Bryant and his wife attended. He said the 20 guests were under the impression Selvakulalingam had paid the bill but in reality it had been unknowingly charged to Mr Bryant's card. Chief Judge Muecke said Selvakulalingam's offending had destroyed the business Mr Bryant, 64, had taken decades of hard work to build up and he and his wife had been forced to sell their home. "John Bryant cannot explain the strain your offending has placed on both he and his wife but also on their daughter, who cannot escape the pressure of not knowing whether (her parents) will be able to continue sending her to school," he said. The court heard Mr Bryant's business has since become insolvent. Chief Judge Muecke said Mr Bryant had written to the court saying that as a result of Selvakulalingam's offending, they still received police summonses for driving offences linked to cars they knew nothing about, and were being sued by several creditors for lost funds. He said Mr Bryant was convinced he had been "targeted" by Selvakulalingam from the outset. "You saw him as a way to obtain money, which he willingly gave you," Chief Judge Muecke said. To be treated in the way he has been after helping you has made it even more difficult. He wrote that you have shown no remorse, you believe your own lies and you cannot differentiate between fact and fiction. Chief Judge Muecke said Selvakulalingam had initially tried to "finger" the blame for his crimes on Mr Bryant but had now eventually admitted he was culpable. He sentenced Selvakulalingam to eight years and six months jail with a non-parole period of five years. Originally published as Jail for fraudster who ripped off "father figure"