'Baillieu cousin' fraudster sent to jail

A 36-year-old man who posed as Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu's first cousin to place $274,000 of bets with two bookmakers has been jailed.

Jason Lawrence Kiselis, 36, created the bogus identity of `Justin Bailleu' with two Melbourne bookmakers, Bill Graham and Rod Clearly, in 2005.

Kiselis then set up phone accounts with the bookies to bet on horse races, County Court Judge Phillip Coish said.

The Melbourne man pleaded guilty to seven charges including deception, theft and passport offences.

Judge Coish said that later in 2005, Kiselis represented himself as a large-scale investor and professional trader.

He purchased $82,000 of shares whilst receiving a Centrelink Newstart allowance at the time.

Kiselis subsequently sold the shares to reap a $3,950 profit.

Judge Coish said that later in 2005 Kiselis purchased a round-the-world ticket and was arrested at Melbourne Airport.

Despite his arrest, Kinselis failed to face a court hearing and fled Australia using a passport under an assumed name.

He was detained on his arrival in Canada and spent 80 days in detention there.

In sentencing, Judge Coish said he had taken into account Kiselis's admission of guilt.

"(I) assess your prospects of rehabilitation as being cloudy," Judge Coish said.

"Your actions were very serious indeed, there are substantial sums of money, you have used dishonestly.

"You have shown a callous disregard for the interests of others," Judge Coish said.

Judge Coish took into account time already served.

He ordered Kiselis to serve four years and six months with a minimum non-parole period of three years jail.