| Myer fraudster Andrew Flanagan blames ‘grandiose hypomania’ for bluffing his way into high-flying jobs |
AN AMERICAN who bluffed his way in to a $400,000-a-year job with Myer was suffering from "grandiose hypomania", a court has heard.
Andrew Flanagan, 47, used fake resumes and referees to secure lucrative positions with a host of companies, including Myer, the Arab Australian Chamber of Commerce, Rivers, as well as overseeing the redevelopment of a Bendigo Hospital.
The County Court heard today that Flanagan was usually sacked after his incompetence was discovered.
Flanagan was only charged after Myer publicly announced his appointment to a $400,000 executive position and said he had worked at another company Inditex, which immediately complained.
Flanagan, who moved to Melbourne in 1999, told Myer on June 23 that Inditex had made a mistake and said he was going home to get evidence but never returned.
Defence lawyer Daniel Cash told judge Gerard Mullaly that Flanagan suffers bipolar and had been gripped by "grandiose hypomania" at the time of his offending Flanagan struck the deal with prosecutors late on Tuesday and formally pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining property by deception after bulldusting his way in to high-paying jobs.
Flanagan, a father of four, has previously been described as a charming man who performed well at interviews but usually got the sack after his incompetence was discovered.
Once in the positions, he was accused of hiring mates, commanding his staff to go out drinking with him and sending them inappropriate text messages.
He was fired from each job following allegations of ineptitude or bad behaviour, including drunken fights with colleagues.
His wife told the court today that they were now both unemployed and the family had been harassed.
Flanagan will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.
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