Jennifer Watkins sentenced after faking River Murray flood disaster, scamming $16k from taxpayers

A woman scammed more than $16,000 from taxpayers after falsely claiming compo from the River Murray floods – with a court told why.

A woman from the state’s south has received a massive fine after scamming more than $16,000 from taxpayers when she falsely claimed her business had been affected by the River Murray floods.

Jennifer Watkins, of Finniss, was sentenced in the Victor Harbor Magistrates Court on Wednesday after submitting false applications to the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science in order to receive flood recovery grants – to which she was not entitled.

Watkins, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of deception, totalling $10,000, and one count of dishonest dealings with documents, totalling $6543.

Magistrate Oliver Koehn noted Watkins’ offending was “directed” by a previous boyfriend as motivation to fund their mutual drug use, but said her crimes were “fraud against the whole community”.

“Taxpayer funds were being used to help businesses that were struggling because of the flood. The community, in my view, would demand that its generosity to those in need should not be abused,” Mr Koehn said.

“These offences are serious offences. We are not talking about an isolated incident. I imagine that having gotten away with the first offence, you thought that you would try again.

“There were not insignificant amounts of money involved, they were significant amounts; and in addition, the offending was not because of any need but, I assume, to fund some dysfunctional life choices that you had made.”

Watkins leaving court last year with a supporter. Picture: Charlie Dadds

She claimed over $16,000 in government flood recovery grants. Picture: Charlie Dadds

The court heard Watkins had submitted an application to the department for an early business closure grant in December 2022 – claiming her business at the time, Nail Technix, had been affected by flooding.

She stated the business was located in Blanchetown, on the Murray, and had been forced to close for 14 days because of the flood.

Her application was approved, and a $10,000 grant was deposited into her account.

In March 2023, a similar online application was submitted for a small business flood recovery grant, this time requesting $6543. Watkins claimed the flood had caused her business “infrastructure damage” but her application was unsuccessful as the department “identified inconsistencies” and notified police.

“The police found the business you were running was not in fact based at Blanchetown or by the river, but in Victor Harbor – and there was no flood damage at all,” Mr Koehn said.

“I am told you accept you should pay compensation in full to the department.

“I take into account the circumstances that have been described, the fact you were in a bad relationship, using drugs, that it was your partner that suggested the offending – and I take account of the fact you are now in a better situation.”

Mr Koehn ordered Watkins to pay $10,000 in compensation and sentenced her to seven months jail, suspended for a two-year good behaviour bond, and 150 hours of community service work.