Shane Williams was debilitated by anxiety, depression and alcoholism when he signed power of attorney documents at a January 14, 2014 meeting at a Wollongong solicitor’s office.

The papers named William’s 27-year-old son Toby Di Comun Williams as the principal. They required him to keep his own money and property separate from his father’s, to act honestly and not to gain a benefit from his position unless authorised.

Instead, Di Comun Williams sealed his father’s financial ruin with a year of indulgent spending on holidays to Japan, Melbourne, Cairns and Port Douglas, hotel stays, a skydiving jaunt, car repayments and a deposit on a brand new car for his partner. 

He opened new accounts to aid the deceipt and used credit cards in his father’s name to make thousands of dollars in purchases. It all, he transferred a $44,089.83 directly into accounts in his own name. He used another $26,777.98 to pay a car debt for himself and his partner. Another $86,572.31 went in transactions from savings, credit card transactions and incurred debt left on credit cards in his father’s name. 

The deceit ended on February 16, 2015, when Mr Williams attended a Wollongong car dealership to question a $7000 deposit placed on a $38,000 Jeep. The car was to be registered in Di Comun Williams’ partner’s name, the dealer said. Di Comun Williams had claimed his father was dead, and that the deposit was his inheritance. 

Mr Williams immediately reported the matter to police. He would later tell them: “Toby has taken my whole life savings and left me with nothing”. Di Comun Williams phoned his mother – Mr Williams’ ex-wife – three days later. “I have spent all of dad’s money and there is none left … I took what I was entitled to,” he said. 

Asked what he had bought, he replied: “helloooooo, Japan, Bali, holidays, paid off my car”. 

Di Comun Williams appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie took into account De Comun Williams’ battle with bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence, but refused his application to have the matter dismissed under mental health legislation, citing the need to send a message of deterrence.

“Courts have said that people with mental health issues are not good vehicles for sending out that message … but my view is that it is so serious it has well and truly crossed the threshold for a term of imprisonment.”

Di Comun Williams was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 12 months.

The court heard Mr Williams now lived with his brother as he was unable to financially support himself.