Fraudster has no remorse for farmer

A man who stole almost $2.7 million from a Queensland farmer by fraudulently promising to invest it overseas has been jailed for eight years.

Trevor Pettett, 73, took the money from Wilfred Duhs on the promise he'd invest it in a high-interest account in the United States.

Instead, Pettett squandered the millions for his own personal benefit over five years, leaving Mr Duhs with just $1400 when the fraudulent behaviour was finally exposed in 2007.

Brisbane District Court on Wednesday heard Mr Duhs' was made to sign "unintelligible" documents that acted as a "smoke screen" to Pettett's wrongdoings.

Pettett also falsified documents to uphold the lie when Mr Duhs hired lawyers to investigate where the money had gone.

In sentencing Pettett, Judge Paul Smith noted he had no remorse for what he did to Mr Duhs, who cannot read very well or understand a tax return.

Judge Smith said Mr Duhs has only managed to get back about $200,000 of the money he lost through civil action but had no hope in getting more and his legal bills were almost $1 million.

Pettett, who was supported in court by his family, was sentenced to eight years jail and will be eligible for parole in mid-2019.