Kristie-Lee Randall, 28, pleads guilty to obtaining property by deception

The manager of an AFL merchandise shop in Geelong stole more than $11,000 from her workplace, a court heard.

Kristie-Lee Randall fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday.

The manager of an AFL merchandise shop stole more than $11,000 from her workplace through fraudulent transactions, a court heard.

Kristie-Lee Randall, 28, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday to obtaining property by deception.

The court heard Randall was the manager of The AFL Shop in Westfield Geelong from March 19, 2021 to May 17, 2022.

From April 3, 2021 to May 16, 2022, Little used the store’s EFTPOS machine to make withdrawals to the sum of $11,103 into her personal bank accounts.

The court heard there were about 20 transactions and CCTV, taken between May 11 to 16, showed Randall in the store by herself scanning items and making the transactions.

On May 17, 2022, Randall had a meeting with the company’s HR team where she made full admissions to the transactions and her employment was terminated.

Randall was interviewed at the Geelong police station on February 27 last year, where she made no comments.

Her bank records showed the fraudulent transactions, the court heard.

Randall’s lawyer Jess Wensley said her client was the only person working in her family at the time, as her father had died and her mother had undergone surgery, leaving her feeling compelled to support them financially.

“She didn’t realise how much she had taken because it was smaller amounts across multiple occasions,” Ms Wensley said.

“She has since moved out of the home … and out of the environment where she felt compelled (to support her family).”

The court heard Little has no prior criminal history and she felt “guilty and ashamed” due to the offending.

Magistrate Peter Mellas raised the question why there had been a delay in the matter however the defence and prosecution both didn’t know.

“The delay has enabled (Randall) to start saving in order to pay (the money) back,” Ms Wensley said.

“It’s been hanging over her head for a long period of time.”

The court heard Little was able to pay back a majority of the money but would need time to save up “another few thousand”.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said the fact Little said she was able to pay back a large sum, but not all, of the money led to a “significant sentencing issue”.

“I’m not saying you have to pay it or you’ll get a result you’re not happy with but if that amount was paid today, that would have made a significant difference in how I’m approaching the matter today,” he said.

“There is a relatively large amount of money but it was taken over a significant amount of time.

“This is serious offending and it involves a breach of trust.”

The matter was adjourned until August 28.

Originally published as Kristie-Lee Randall, 28, pleads guilty to obtaining property by deception