Man convicted for $15k spend on stolen credit cards 'likely' from dark web

A man in South Australia's Riverland has been convicted and jailed after purchasing almost $16,000 worth of Bunnings gift cards and merchandise, using stolen credit cards "likely" obtained from the dark web.

Aijaypal Tim Sanghera, 38, appeared via video link at the Berri Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to 12 counts of dishonest dealing with property, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and one count of possession of a prescription drug.

The court heard Sanghera used stolen credit card information to make 11 click and collect orders at several Bunnings stores for 98 items.

Police prosecutors told the court the orders, placed over a five-week period between April and May 2026, were purchased from stores in Berri, Parafield Gardens and Edwardstown.

Of the 98 items purchased, 20 were $500 Bunnings gift cards, which were all linked to Sanghera's Bunnings PowerPass account.

"As a result, it's not the individual card holders that are at a loss because those credit card companies have reversed the transaction," police prosecutors told the court.

"The total loss to Bunnings on those 11 transactions [was] $15,899.65."

The court heard the police investigation suggested Sanghera had obtained "a bulk of personal data likely from the dark web of stolen credit cards".

Police prosecutors said some of the items purchased with the cards were found during a search of Sanghera's residence in Bookpurnong on June 10 this year, making the total uncompensated loss for Bunnings $14,592.

They told the court less than a gram of methamphetamine, three ice pipes and a dagger were also found.

Defence lawyer Craig Caldicott told the court Sanghera had a difficult upbringing, witnessing his father's suicide by poisoning and was the victim of sexual abuse as a teenager, which had fuelled a drug addiction.

Mr Caldicott also told the court a lengthy prison sentence would not be beneficial, arguing it did not address the root of the problem.

"The problem with incarceration, it doesn't address the issues of drug addiction," he said. 

Senghara was sentenced to four months prison and a two month good behaviour bond for his offending.

'Protecting the community is paramount'

Magistrate Jay Pandya described Sanghera's offending as "deliberate and relentless", and "fuelled and motivated to raise funds to continue to be able to obtain drugs and use drugs".

She said sentencing had to reflect the seriousness of the offending.

"The most important part of sentencing is protection of the community," Magistrate Pandya told the court.

"These are ordinary people in the community, who are impacted by people like yourself, who are fuelled and motivated to commit crimes for their own advantage and to fund illegal habits.

"Your offending was not simple — it involved a number of steps."

Magistrate Pandya accepted Sanghera's guilty plea.

"You have been clear about taking responsibility and you have been clear about your remorse," she said.