HE WAS unemployed and receiving Centrelink benefits, but Luke Brett Moore was able to lead the life of a multi-millionaire.

The 27-year-old owned an impressive collection of luxury vehicles including a powerboat, an Aston Martin, a Maserati and an Alfa Romeo.

In addition to his expensive fleet of cars, when police raided his Goulburn home in December 2012, they also found a jersey signed by legendary basketballer Michael Jordan, a record signed by Michael Jackson, an artwork by renowned Australian painter Pro Hart as well as signed photographs of Kylie Minogue and the Top Gear team.

media_camera Luke Brett Moore was convicted of stealing $2 million from St George Bank. Picture: Facebook

All of it, a Goulburn District Court jury has determined, was purchased using ill-gotten gains, obtained by Moore exploiting of a loophole with his St George bank account.

Moore was convicted on February 19 of obtaining financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime for stealing $2.189 million from the bank over a three-year period.

Moore had previously held a margin lending account with St George and police believe the same conditions may have been applied to the new account he opened in 2010, meaning he could withdraw huge amounts, even if he did not have the money.

After realising he could dip into the account and keep withdrawing, Moore went on a spending spree, exploiting the account 48 times, the court heard.

Detective Senior Constable Peter Selmes, the Goulburn-based officer in charge of the investigation, said police needed only to drive past his home to see how he was spending the money.

media_camera The Maserati seized by police after they arrested Luke Brett Moore. Picture: NSW Police Media

media_camera The Michael Jordan framed shirt Moore bought with the money he took from St George Bank. Picture: NSW Police Media

media_camera Autographed Michael Jackson picture seized by police. Picture: NSW Police Media

The cars and boat had been parked in a vacant lot across the street, he said.

While the bank confirmed the transactions were made possible through “human error”, police alleged that Moore was committing a crime by withdrawing the funds because he was not entitled to the money and had no intention of paying it back.

The court heard that money overdrawn from the account was deposited into two NAB savings accounts and one NAB PayPal account.

Bulk deposits as high as $100,000 were being made at some points, the court heard.

By the time of his arrest, Moore’s two savings accounts had received $507,566 and $271,525 respectively.

The PayPal account had received $1.8 million, the court heard.

media_camera A Pro Hart painting bought by Moore on his $2m spending spree. Picture: NSW Police Media

media_camera The boat and trailer seized by police from Moore. Picture: NSW Police Media

media_camera Moore also bought this framed Ten Pound note. Picture: NSW Police Media

media_camera An autographed Top Gear picture was also part of Moore’s collection. Picture: NSW Police Media

DSC Selmes said the investigation began in September 2012 and lasted three months.

The withdrawals started out small but “the longer he went on the more brazen he became with larger amounts”.

At the same time as he was making the withdrawals, Moore was also receiving Newstart benefits totalling $9000, the court heard.

A portion of the funds Moore obtained was also used to pay off a mortgage with Rams Home Loans, the court heard.

A St George Bank spokeswoman told The Sunday Telegraph the matter was an isolated incident resulting from “human error”.

“The issue has been resolved and the customer has been convicted. The bank is now seeking to recover funds,” the spokeswoman said.

Moore will be sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court on April 17.

Originally published as My $2m spending spree on the dole