Imprisonment for fraud

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 5

Imprisonment for fraud

A housewife, aged 35, earlier convicted on a series of fraud and forgery charges, involving $20,326, was sent to prison for six months when she appeared for sentence before Judge Paterson in the District Court yesterday. Colleen Patricia Bates admitted the offences which took place over the last 17 months. The defendant had written out 137 cheques, amounting to $20,326 from her employer’s imprest account on which expenses were drawn. The offending represented a substantial breach of trust which involved a certain amount of planning. It did not involve an impulsive “dipping into the till,” said the Judge. Even allowing for the rate at which money had lost value in recent times, the amount involved was considerable, said the Judge. Counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) said it was sad to see someone of his client’s age, experience, and good record, ap-

pearing before the Court on a charge of such magnitude. The defendant, a person of otherwise excellent character. had been under considerable pressure at the time. She had shouldered an increasing workload for her employer for which she had not been particularly well paid. He said arrangements were in hand for payment of an agreed amount of compensation to her former employer. An application by Mr Glue for final suppression of his client's name was refused.