In 1976, Graeme Phillips stole his brother Peter Phillips house deposit to pay for a renovation and house extension of 24 Jolie Vue Road, North Balwyn VIC 3104.
Upon stealing the money, Graeme began telling vicious lies about Peter and inciting hatred of his new wife Gail to their parents John (Jack) and Norma and siblings Peter and Paul.
Peter was quickly alienated from his family and his credibility wrecked.
Graeme would continue this attack against Peter and Gail to his parents, siblings and his own wife and family up until a few months before his death on 14 May 2022.
The 1976 incident is the first recorded instance whereby Graeme Phillips stole money from loved ones and then covered up his crime by telling lies, defaming those he stole from and then inciting hatred of those persons.
Picture: 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North VIC 3104 extension, pool and spa built with with stolen money in 1976
Linden Auto Service
Peter Phillips earnt a reputation as a hard worker and is now retired.
Peter’s son Nathan worked alongside his dad up until retirement at a school in Perth, WA.
Still to this day, the faculty staff from the principal down to students ask Nathan about his dad Peter. For over 30 years, Peter was endeared to the school and is seemingly forever loved by all those that knew him.
Peter “duxed” matriculation at De La Salle College and after some years, gained employment at Linden Auto Service, 292 Station Street, Box Hill VIC 3128.
Peter earnt the trust of the owner Keith Roberts, who lived at 4 Ivy Street, Box Hill.
Keith had two service stations in the Box Hill area between 1955 and 1988, according to records kept by the Box Hill Historical Society www.boxhillhistoricalsociety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Box-Hill-Rate-books.pdf page 859 of 1141.
The second service station was located at 91 Middlesborough Road, Box Hill.
By 1975, Peter had accrued many years of loyal service to Keith Roberts managing the 292 Station Street, Box Hill business. In that year, Peter and Keith came to a disagreement over monies owed to Peter. Keith had promised Peter a share of profits which incentivised Peter to stay in his employment, work long hours and manage the business.
Peter was married to Gail and wanted to buy a house.
Peter and Gail recall that Keith had promised and owed Peter a profit share from his business of “around $10,000”.
The average house price in the Box Hill in 1975 was $35,000.
Peter thought he had a good job, and a share in the business and by 1975 thought it was now time to collect the money and buy his family a house.
But Keith would not pay up.
Peter confided in his brother Graeme.
Graeme told Peter that he would go and meet with Keith Roberts and work it out.
Graeme met with Keith.
Graeme then met with Peter.
Graeme told Peter that Keith did not owe him anything.
Peter never saw a cent of the deposit for a home he was promised and had worked for many years to earn.
Peter suspected Graeme of stealing the money.
Peter confronted Graeme about the theft this is when the lies and defamation began and, the attack on Peter’s wife Gail.
Picture: Linden Auto Service
Defamation
Peter’s wife Gail had been previously married and Gail keeps a letter her future father-in-law John (Jack) wrote to Gail asking her not to marry her son.
Graeme Phillips criminal profile follows a pattern of behaviour that is littered by instances whereby he stole money and then told lies and incessantly defamed his victims to alienate them, wreck their credibility, to cover up and get away from his crimes.
Graeme targeted sensitivities and perceived weaknesses to exploit emotions as part of his rue to cover up those crimes.
Graeme’s son Simon Phillips was born 29 October 1973.
Simon’s only memory of his uncle Peter was that he was famous for babysitting his brothers (Matthew & Marc) and his sister (Vikki). On each babysitting occasion Peter would bring with him a $2 bag of mixed lollies, which back in 1975 was the size of half a brown paper supermarket shopping bag.
Since Simon could remember, Graeme spoke viciously about his brother Peter. Graeme would say to his wife Diana and children Matthew, Vikki, Marc, Simon, and James (born 1976) that his brother Peter was “just a fuck wit”. That, “he works 80 hours a week” and his “wife Gail sits at home and does nothing” and that Peter “is not worth knowing”.
In later years, Graeme would say to his wife and children that Peter’s children were “in and out of jail.”
Graeme incessantly defamed his brother Peter and in doing so kept his children away from their uncle Peter and their cousins. Cousins whom they never met.
Graeme would incessantly defame Peter and Gail to his brother Paul and sister Diane and to his mother Norma.
Graeme’s incessant defamation of Peter and Gail resulted in Paul’s family (Di, Taylor and Teghan) and Diane’s family (Daryl, Nicole and Damian) were kept apart.
24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North 3104
On 13 December 1972 the property title was Mortgaged to the City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited.
On 14 March 1973 the property was refinanced, and the property title was Mortgaged to Jardine Turnbull Insurance Pty Ltd.
On 17 August 1976 the property was refinanced, and the property title was Mortgaged to the City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited.
On 13 October 1976 the property was refinanced, and the property title was Mortgaged to Jardine Turnbull Insurance Pty Ltd.
On 15 November 1977 the property was refinanced, and the property title was Mortgaged to a Victor Stanley Kay.
State of Victoria records, held by LANDATA that 13 October 1976 and 15 November 1977 Mortgages were second Mortgages.
See LANDATA Records.
Graeme sold 24 Jolie Vue Road, North Balwyn 3014 on 12 April 1979 for $76,500 and the first and second Mortgages held against the property were discharged.
Between December 1972 and November 1977 Graeme Mortgaged the property on 6 occasions, once every 10 months on average.
The final second Mortgage was with Victor Stanley Kay. The person is listed as an individual and likely a short term, high interest rate money lender.
The frequency of refinancing suggests that money was tight, and the two instances of a second mortgage, especially mortgaging the property to a short-term money lender, suggest that Graeme needed money.
Extension & Pool - 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North 3104
Simon Phillips recalls that in 1975 /1976 that an extension to 24 Jolie Vue Road was built, to include a rumpus room and pool.
Simon, whilst only 3 years old at the time, recalls the exact date because he was required to get swimming lessons because of the pool being built. Simon would hide behind the freezer in the kitchen, so his mum could not get to him and take him to swimming lessons. His mum could not get to him because she was pregnant with his soon to be born brother James.
James Phillips was born 21 September 1976.
After James was born, Simon remembers watching television on bean bags in the new rumpus room, swimming in the pool with his sister and brothers and bouncing his newly born brother James on a bassinet in the rumpus room.
A pool and rumpus room are a significant extension, given money was tight and the property was being refinanced every 10 months, raises questions as to where Graeme sourced the money.
The timing of the extension and pool aligns with the dates of Graeme’s meeting with Keith Roberts.
6 Hopetoun Road, Toorak 3142
Graeme purchased 6 Hopetoun Road, Toorak 3142 for $167,500 on 20 March 1978.
The property title of 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North states that the Mortgages on the property were held by, City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited and Victor Stanley Kay were discharged on 12 April 1979.
Between 20 March 1978 and 12 April 1979, Graeme, an Insurance Manager, was paying three mortgages.
Crown -V- Graeme Francis Phillips
On 12 February 1988 Graeme was sentenced to 30-months imprisonment.
Graeme pleaded guilty to 12 counts of “obtaining property by deception” (fraud).
Each count was punishable by 6 months imprisonment.
Graeme received the maximum term punishable for the crimes.
The first of the 12 counts occur between 18 April 1978 and 8 June 1978. In that period
Graeme “dishonestly obtains” (steals) $2,871.69.
Given Graeme was selling income protection insurance to taxi drivers, he would have been in discussions with U.S Motors and Gibbs Bright Insurance Group for up to 12 months prior to the 1st count of theft.
By 15 November 1977, Graeme had two mortgages on 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North and the second mortgage was likely held with a short-term money lender Victor Stanley Kay.
Graeme also wanted to buy a mansion at 6 Hopetoun Road, Toorak which he did on 20 March 1978.
The upshot of this analysis means that Graeme had found a way to steal money through his insurance business in 1977. And as he sold these insurance policies, he was already spending the money, because without stealing the money he could not afford to buy 6 Hopetoun Road, Toorak and service two mortgages on 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North.
Between 18 April 1978 and 1 July 1982 Graeme would go on to “dishonestly obtain” a total of $48,000.
$48,000 has a value today of approximately $2,000,000 (million).
Graeme’s theft and those victims that he deceived is detailed at:
The Crown -V- Graeme Francis Phillips criminal files is available for download at:
Graeme began his insurance crime spree 18 months after his meeting with Keith Roberts.
Graeme had a motive to steal.
History shows he would deceive and defraud family members, including his children and grandchildren, without hesitation.
If Graeme could have got Peter’s money, he would have.
21 April 2023
Peter attended Graeme’s funeral on 14 May 2022.
Peter’s son Nathan told Simon Phillips that his father had died, when they met for dinner on 31 October 2022.
Graeme’s death had been kept secret from Simon because he had obtained through applications to the Courts copies of Graeme’s criminal records in November 2021.
In December 2021 and then again in April 2022 Simon sent to Graeme these court documents and detailed other acts of fraud that he and his son Matthew had committed against his wife Natasha Phillips, David Wemyss Smyth, and Ron Stanborough.
Upon receiving Graeme’s criminal files Simon had quickly unraveled Graeme’s life of fraud, deception, trickery, lies and then defamation to cover up his crimes.
On 22 November 2022, Simon sent to Peter and Gail Phillips a copy of Graeme’s criminal files that included detailed information about the deception, fraud and defamation that is now documented on www.graemephillips.com.au.
On 21 April 2023 Nathan Phillips relayed to Simon the story about his dad (Peter), Keith Roberts and Graeme Phillips and the events that unfolded in 1975.
Up until 22 November 2022, Peter was unaware of Graeme’s criminal life of fraud and defamation.
If Peter and Gail Phillips had known the truth as to why Graeme was sent to jail, they would have gone to the Police and report Graeme’s theft of their house deposit in 1976.
Unpacking the Lies
In 1988, Peter and Graeme’s sister Diane Beale (Phillips) explained to Peter and Gail Phillips (Peter’s Wife) that Graeme had been sent to jail.
Diane relayed to Peter and Gail what Graeme had told her as the reason why Graeme was
imprisoned (paraphrasing):
“Graeme’s business had been robbed when he was overseas during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Graeme said that criminals had stolen his business and money, so he could not pay back the money that one of his staff had likely taken. Graeme could not pay back the money and was then, as the business owner, liable and sentenced to prison.”
“She said (Diane) that Graeme had been done over by criminals
When we break down this statement, now that we have access to the truth, we can uncover the web of lies Graeme told.
The Crown -V- Graeme Francis Phillips details how Graeme sold personal accident insurance to taxi drivers. Instead of setting up the insurance policy for each taxi driver, he stole the money. When taxi drivers were injured, there was no cover. Taxi drivers then contacted the police. The police then prepared their case and the Director of Public Prosecution tried Graeme for the crimes.
Graeme’s crimes were not a matter of paying monies back. Firstly, there was the crime of stealing money, then the crime of not putting in place the policy and then the human cost of each crime when taxi drivers were injured and there was no policy in place to claim insurance for the costs of injuries sustained.
Federal Court of Australia records obtained in November 2021, expose that the criminals that Graeme claimed stole his money, did not steal “his money”. By July 1984, Graeme had stolen over $1,000,000 (million) in insurance premiums to fund a lavish lifestyle of Toorak Mansions, Rolls Royce’s, Racehorses, Private School Fees, and First-Class travel.
The $300,000 Graeme claimed to be stolen was applied to the over $1,000,000 in insurance premium monies that had not been set up, but instead stolen by Graeme to fund his lifestyle.
Download Graeme Phillips Federal Court of Australia criminal file and read the blog that details the extent and damage of Graeme’s crimes and the total monies he stole to fund his lavish lifestyle and the lies he then told about those that exposed his crimes.
Pattern of Behaviour
Graeme tricked, deceived, and stole monies from family, friends and colleagues and then defamed those he stole from to cover up his crimes.
The many hundreds of victims of Graeme’s crimes include:
Simon, Natasha, Georgia, Ted and Austin Phillips who have no relationship with Simon’s side of the family that includes his mother, brothers, sister, their spouses and children.
Peter, Gail, Nathan, Stephen and Justin who have no relationship with Peter’s side of the family that includes his mother, brothers, sister, their spouses and children.
David and Sharyn Wemyss Smyth and their children.
Ron and Lorraine Stanborough and their children.
The victims named in the Crown -V- Graeme Francis Phillips court proceedings that include Frederick Allen LANG, Tony FALZON David HALL, John David BROOKE, Lionel John Herbert MOHR, Geoffrey Ronald LONG, Christopher Frank ALDERTON, Paul KENNETT, Peter William TOWN-HOPKINSON, Thomas Kevin HASSARD, Julie Lorraine HOPKINSON, Christopher Robert GIDDINGS, Gwenyth Anne WILLIAMSON, David STEEL.
The victims named in the Australian Transport Insurance -V- Graeme Phillips Road Transport Insurance court proceedings RAYMOND BERTRAM BARTLETT; JOSEPH McNEANY, CHRISTOPHER FRANK ALDERTON, MARY ROGERS AND LES CLARKE.
Hundreds of Long-Term Unemployed Jobseekers, as detailed in Ron Stanborough and David Wemyss Smyth -V- Stanborough Wemyss Contracting Pty Ltd.
Summary
We know that Graeme stole from family, friends, colleagues.
We know that in late 1977 Graeme was actively thinking of ways to steal insurance premium monies, to fund his lavish lifestyle ambition.
We also know that he spent a life time defaming his brother. The defamation of character follows a pattern of convicted criminal behavior whereby in each future instance when he lied about and defamed those persons he stole monies, to cover up his crimes.
Picture: 24 Jolie Vue Road, Balwyn North VIC 3104
Picture: 6 Hopetoun Road, Toorak VIC 3142
Picture: Peter Phillips (middle), Nathan Phillips (left Peter's Son) and Simon Phillips (right Graeme's Son) in 2019.
Cousins Nathan and Simon connected on Facebook and met for the first time in this photo.
Graeme Phillips kept us apart by telling lies and incessantly defaming Peter and his wife Gail (Nathan's mum).
After Graeme died in May 2022, Peter found out the truth about Graeme criminal history and the reason why he had been imprisoned.
Peter soon came forward with his own story about Graeme stealing his house deposit in 1976.