Public servant steals $25,000 to play pokies
Michael Inman
Courts reporter for The Canberra Times.
A public servant who stole more than $25,000 from the Commonwealth to feed a gambling addiction has pleaded guilty in a Canberra court.
Timothy David Deacon, 26, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday on 17 counts of misusing and attempting to misuse a Commonwealth credit card.
Court documents said Deacon was issued with a travel card in 2011 for his work with the Defence Department.
Defence employees are authorised to use the card to pay for work-related travel, including transport, accommodation, and meals.
But Deacon instead used the account as ready cash to punt on the poker machines.
He used the card on 16 occasions over a four-week period between August and September last year, withdrawing about $25,000 in cash.
The withdrawal fees and charges took the total loss to the Commonwealth to $25,496.75.
Deacon attempted to make a further four cash withdrawals on September 12 but failed as the card had been cancelled.
The defendant admitted the fraud to his supervisor during a phone call later that day.
Deacon then wrote a letter to a departmental chief saying: "I recently accessed funds from my [card] to feed a gambling addiction which I thought I had beaten. I write to apologise to you for this dreadful lapse in judgment that I have inflicted on my colleagues and Defence."
In October, he voluntarily took part in a recorded interview where he admitted the thefts.
Deacon said he had a gambling addiction since 2009 and had undergone professional counselling to treat the condition before joining Defence.
Magistrate Karen Fryar ordered the defendant participate in a pre-sentence report.
The Commonwealth has sought a reparation order to have the money repaid. Deacon will be sentenced in December.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/public-servant-steals-25000-to-play-pokies-20130816-2s1pz.html#ixzz2cE7UgOu0
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