Scott Hill used a Department of Defence travel card to scam $31K to ease a gambling debt

A gambling-addicted netball coach whose “premeditated” scam to pay off his $68,000 debt was discovered by his government employer has been sentenced in court.

Scott Hill made 94 unauthorised cash withdrawals totalling more than $31,000. Picture: Scott Hill Facebook

A netball coach has avoided jail for defrauding his former employer the Department of Defence of more than $31,000 to pay off a $68,000 gambling debt.

Scott Matthew Hill, 44, pleaded guilty in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday to four counts of knowingly cause loss to the Commonwealth.

The court heard Hill had a “significant involvement in community-based activities”, including as a coach at Sandy Creek Netball Club.

However, it heard 25 years ago Hill began to gamble on horse races but “that interest turned into an addiction”.

It heard Hill first sought help in 2008 but he incurred debts of $68,000, including “maxed out credit cards”.

Magistrate Terence Forrest said Hill, who was born in Port Augusta and attended Rostrevor College, got a finance job with the Department of Defence about nine years ago.

Scott Hill, a Sandy Creek Netball Club coach, had first sought help for a gambling habit in 2008, a court has heard. Picture: Scott Hill Facebook

The court heard between April, 2017 and April 2019, Hill made a total of 94 unauthorised cash withdrawals of nearly $32,000 using a company travel card in a “premeditated” scam to bet on horse racing.

Mr Forrest said Hill gambled in the “vain hope you could have a large win… or possibly large wins” and kept his “unlawful activity” hidden.

“The big win never eventuated, it never does in my experience,” Mr Forrest said.

His scam went undetected until April, 2019 when his supervisor queried his transactions and Hill immediately confessed.

For Hill, Craig Caldicott asked for “one chance” for his client who had made “great strides” since the offending.

“I’m asking for one chance for somebody whose never been in trouble before,” Mr Caldicott said.

“Please just give him one chance… he will repay the community a hundredfold.”

The court heard he had repaid more than $14,000 so far to the Commonwealth.

Mr Forrest said Hill had breached the trust of his employer with the “sustained nature” of the offending.

“You were a trusted employee,” Mr Forrest said.

“You had the opportunity to stop… but you did not.”

Mr Forrest said Hill, who shed tears in the dock, had an “unblemished record” prior but was guilty of an “offence of greed”.

“You have been a gambling addict,” Mr Forrest said.

“Your addiction resulted in you needing money. There were lawful options available.

“You ignored those lawful choices and in effect stole from your employer.”

Hill received four convictions, a suspended prison term of eight months and one week, a three-year good behaviour bond and he will have to pay $17,800.68 to the Commonwealth.