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Ex-Billabong boss Matthew Perrin jailed for $13m fraud

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Former Billabong CEO Matthew Perrin has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found guilty of faking his ex-wife's signature to get a $13.5 million loan.

The 44-year-old was convicted of three counts of fraud and six of forgery after a week-long trial in Brisbane District Court in December last year.

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Former Billabong CEO jailed

Ex-Billabong CEO Matthew Perrin has been sentenced to eight years in jail for fraud. Video courtesy ABC News 24.

The jury had been unable to decide on three further forgery charges.

On Friday, Crown prosecutor Glenn Cash told the court approximately $4 million had been recovered to the Commonwealth Bank after it was defrauded of the $13.5 million. 

Perrin was sentenced to eight years for three counts of fraud, six years for four counts of forgery and seven years for two further counts of forgery.

He will serve them concurrently and is eligible for parole in four years.

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Judge Julie Dick said Perrin turned to criminal activities to "stay afloat" and she found it "disturbing" he had persisted with the prosecution of his ex-wife Nicole Bricknell in relation to the confession note Perrin denied writing.

"You did express remorse initially, particularly in front of friends and family in ... 2009, unfortunately that remorse has dissipated over time and you opted to have a trial in this matter," she said.

"You seem simply to refuse to recognise that it was you who forged the documents and you who presented them to the bank."

Perrin had forged his former wife's signature to mortgage his family's $15 million property in Surfers Paradise in 2008 without her permission. She owned the home.

Ms Bricknell said she had never given him the authority to sign on her behalf.

"This man has taken from me and my children without my permission and knowledge, that's worse than having an affair in my opinion," she said during her evidence last year.

- with AAP