GRIFFITH LOCAL COURT FORMER Griffith deputy mayor Peter Fussell has been jailed for more than a year after being convicted of 13 dishonesty offences. The 51-year-old was jailed for a minimum 14 months by magistrate Shane McAnulty in Griffith Local Court on Friday. After being sentenced, Fussell lodged a severity appeal and applied for bail. The application was refused by the magistrate, leaving Fussell behind bars at least until his appeal is heard in the District Court or if he succeeds in any bail application in the Supreme Court. Fussell had pleaded guilty to 13 counts of obtaining money by deception. The charges stemmed from Fussell's dealings with financed cars while he owned Griffith City Motors. That dealership and Fussell's other business, Riverina Motors, went into receivership in April, 2010. In November, 2012, police charged Fussell with one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and 16 counts of obtaining money by deception. Since then, three counts of obtaining money by deception and the charge of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception were withdrawn by police. Fussell pleaded guilty late last year to the 13 charges he was sentenced on yesterday. On five counts of obtaining money by deception (greater than $5000 but less than $15,000), Fussell was sentenced to 18 months in jail from March 29 with 12-months non-parole. On another eight counts of obtaining money by deception (greater than $15,000) Fussell was jailed for 18 months, with a non-parole period of 12 months starting from May 27. Fussell's earliest date for release is May 26 next year. Fussell was a Griffith City Councillor for six years and tendered his resignation from council in March 2012, five months before the local government election. He is also a former president of the Griffith Chamber of Commerce. Fussell's appeal could be heard at the next sittings of Griffith District Court, starting June 10, or he might be able to get an earlier hearing in Sydney.