Bookkeeper Amanda Dyer remanded in custody for robbing two companies

A business owner has nothing but “bloody hatred” for the woman who destroyed his reputation and stole his life savings, allegedly to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

A “ruthless” woman committed shocking acts of betrayal by stealing a combined $1.3m from two workplaces during her bookkeeper duties.

Amanda Marie Dyer, 58, was allegedly living the high life, all the while harbouring a sinister secret about how it all was funded.
Dyer stole over $1.2m from Dry Creek‘s Rick Cobby Transport while she worked for them between 2013 to 2018.

Rick Cobby Transport went into liquidation in 2018 and Dyer had started work at the Lady Bay hotel in Normanville.

She stole over $90,000 from that business from 2017 to 2018.

Victim impact statements were read to the Adelaide District Court on Friday.

Rick Cobby, 81, said Dyer had destroyed his reputation in the transport industry and stolen his life savings.

“Amanda Dyer worked for me and my company, stealing for her family and her own greed, benefit and indulgence – all the while destroying all I have worked so bloody hard for,” he said.

“Amanda you have stripped me of all my dignity from my colleagues and my friends from over 60 years.”

Mr Cobby said Dyer lived a lavish life on his dime, including buying new homes, expensive gifts and staying in penthouse hotels.

“You will never know the devastation and the damaging effects of your ruthless, callous criminal actions,” he said.

“I have nothing but contempt, disgrace and bloody hatred for you and your family and your actions.”

Lady Bay hotel owner, Mike Hill said Dyer had destroyed his faith in human nature.

“Amanda, you are a manipulative, heartless person who has no conscience whatsoever and you have hurt or destroyed a lot of people by acting not out of need but pure greed,” he said.

A prosecutor said the offending was “brazen, deceptive and involved gross breaches of trust”.

The court heard Dyer leveraged her role as an accountant and bookkeeper to transfer funds to herself instead of paying creditors.

This happened on 194 occasions over five years.

After Rick Cobby Transport went into liquidation, an investigation identified the misappropriation of company funds leading back to Dyer.

The Lady Bay Hotel wasn’t made aware of Dyer’s deception until they were contacted and warned.

Amanda Dyer stole over 1.3m from her workplaces. Photo: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Amanda Dyer outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court at an earlier appearance. Photo: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

The Normanville mother pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft, replacing the 235 originally laid by police.

A teary Dyer read apology letters to her victims, saying she was deeply ashamed of her actions and didn’t expect forgiveness.

Casey Isaacs, for Dyer, agreed with the prosecution that a jail term was inevitable.

Mr Casey said there was no evidence of where the funds were spent and it was “speculation” that it was to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Mr Casey said a large portion of the stolen money was spent on Dyer’s alcohol and gambling problems.

“It’s not particularly sophisticated … it was always doomed to fail,” Mr Casey said.

The court heard Dyer’s husband had terminal cancer and she had been acting as his carer.

“The reality is she’ll never see her husband outside of custody ever again,” Mr Casey said.

The court heard Dyer was a permanent resident and may face deportation back to the UK upon her release from jail.

Judge Simon Stretton remanded Dyer in custody and adjourned the charges until July.