Donvale woman spared jail over gambling-fuelled thefts
22 May, 2012 03:56 PM
A DONVALE woman who stole $137,717 from her employer to fund her gambling addiction has avoided jail on condition she repay the entire amount.
Rebecca Cave, 37, was convicted of theft in Melbourne Magistrates Court last week.
She was given a six-month suspended sentence on a good behaviour bond and ordered to repay the money within five years.
Cave is also required to continue attending Gamblers Anonymous, continue counselling and obey her psychologist’s instructions regarding treatment or medication.
Prosecutor Julian Ayres said Cave was employed by food hygiene company Sanikleen as an office manager and was the only employee authorised to make payments to creditors.
He said that on 44 occasions between June 25, 2010 and May 6, 2011, Cave stole amounts of between $45 and $5683.26.
Mr Ayres said she would log in to Sanikleen’s internet banking and, instead of paying an invoice, would pay her own bank account and cover her tracks by issuing replica invoices.
Mr Ayres said the crimes were discovered when Cave was away from work and Sanikleen owner Brendan Moore was called in by a creditor.
Forensic clinical psychologist Patrick Newton said Cave suffered “a moderate level of a major depressive disorder” and a pathological gambling disorder.
Mr Newton said she had stolen the money to feed her gambling addiction, which was a manifestation of the depression she had suffered since she was 15.
Defence counsel Sarah Leighfield said Cave had since found employment with another company as a payroll officer and would be able to repay the stolen funds if she was not in custody and able to continue work.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said he chose to suspend Cave’s prison term because of her mental state, her agreement to repay Mr Moore, her lack of prior convictions and because she was a good candidate for rehabilitation.
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