Gawler Books owner Allison Sadler avoids immediate jail for dishonest dealing with documents in dodgy insurance claim

When this bookshop owner was offered $41,000 by her insurance over a cycling crash, she found she could claim more if she had employed someone. There was one problem.

A bookshop owner who provided “palpably false” time books in an attempt to deceive an insurance company as part of a crash claim has been spared jail.

Gawler Books owner Allison Sadler, 50, of Willaston was placed on a good-behaviour bond in the District Court on Monday.

After she was hit by a car while cycling in Gawler, she lodged a third-party claim for more than $600,000 in the District Court against insurer Allianz Australia. The claim was initially rejected and a counter claim of more than $41,000 offered.

In sentencing Judge Liesl Kudelka said Sadler had undergone medical assessments that were “unfavourable to the quantum” she had initially claimed.

She said Sadler was then told the amount of her claim could increase if she had paid anyone wages for working in her book store.

Allison Sadler at her bookshop Gawler Books in Willaston. Picture: Ian Roddie

Sadler subsequently provided two time books to her lawyers purporting her then-partner worked about 1700 hours in 2015 and 2016. The court had heard he was working full-time in another job requiring interstate travel and had made transactions elsewhere during the hours he was said to be working at the shop.

Judge Kudelka said Sadler had admitted knowing the books would be sent to Allianz as part of her claim.

“You disputed at trial the falsity of those time books. The jury found that they were false. In my view, based on the evidence led at trial, they were palpably false,” Judge Kudelka said.

“It was not a case of one or two errors here or there.”

Sadler was found guilty at trial of a charge of dishonest dealing with documents over the time books.

Sadler continues to deny the offending and has not expressed any contrition or remorse.

Judge Kudelka said Sadler was a “valued and valuable member of the local community” in Gawler and regularly donated books to charities, fostered stray dogs and cared for people in the community.

Judge Kudelka said Sadler had a genuine claim to make but was dishonest.

“It is a serious matter to produce false information when making an insurance claim,” she said.

“I have no doubt that this offending was an aberration in your life. There is no doubt that for 50 years you have otherwise led a law-abiding and community-focused life.”

She said she had grown up wanting to be a librarian due to the influence of her partners, who were teachers. Her store had previously won an award for “the most beautiful book store in Australia”.

The court has previously heard Sadler had received an offer of $28,000 to settle the claim, which she was considering.

Sadler’s jail term of 20-months with a non-parole period of 11 months on condition of a two-year good behaviour bond.