Norlane’s Lily McKenzie jailed after defrauding ATO almost $150k

A young Norlane woman will only spend a few more months in jail after she defrauded the tax almost $150,000 by lodging false documents.

Norlane woman Lily McKenzie. Picture: Instagram

A Norlane woman will spend more time behind bars after she defrauded the tax office almost $150,000 by lodging fake documents.

Lily McKenzie fronted the County Court in Melbourne this week to be sentenced by Judge Pardeep Tiwana.

At an earlier hearing, McKenzie pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception.

After setting up an ABN for a disability business and lodging 10 false business statements, McKenzie dishonestly obtained $147,466 in GST refunds and tried to obtain a further $58,111.

Judge Tiwana said the 24-year-old experienced a “particularly chaotic, abusive and unstable upbringing”.

“Your background makes for grim reading,” he said.

“The family home was frequented by known criminals and drug users.”

Norlane woman Lily McKenzie. Picture: Facebook

Judge Tiwana said McKenzie’s “turbulent childhood” significantly disrupted her education.

She attended various schools around Geelong but left in year 9 after developing a relationship with an older man due to her drug use.

Judge Tiwana said both her biological parents died in separate incidents when she was 18-years-old.

“Your father died suddenly about 13 days after your 18th birthday,” he said.

“Four months later, you and your older stepbrother found your mother unconscious on the couch of the family home.

“You attempted CPR but she was already deceased.

“You experienced intense grief and distress from your mother’s death and the circumstances in which you discovered her body.”

Judge Tiwana said McKenzie started to use cannabis and alcohol daily when she was 15-years-old and continued to abuse other drugs including GHB, heroin and methamphetamine.

He said taxpayers expected their contributions to be used to benefit the community and vital services.

“You sought to dishonestly defraud the tax office to the detriment of taxpayers who comply with the law,” he said.

“This is not a victimless crime.”

A report tendered to the court said McKenzie suffered with borderline personality disorder, poor self-esteem and limited social skills due to her “unstable” upbringing.

Judge Tiwana said she was using her time well in custody by working in the gardens and attending weekly sessions for her drug and alcohol issues.

Norlane woman Lily McKenzie. Picture: Facebook

“While I am unable to express optimism about your prospects of rehabilitation, it is clear that meaningful, intensive treatment is required to address your complex and entrenched issues,” he said.

McKenzie was sentenced to two years and six months in prison however she will be released after six months onto a recognisance release order for two years.

As part of the order, she must be of good behaviour and undergo treatment for her mental and drug and alcohol abuse.

She will be required to give the court $2000 as a promise to comply with the conditions of the order.

“The hard work will begin when you are released,” Judge Tiwana said.

“I really want you to comply with those conditions because I don’t want to see you back in court and I don’t want to send you back to prison.”

McKenzie had served 54 days in custody which will be reckoned as time served.

Originally published as Norlane’s Lily McKenzie jailed after defrauding ATO almost $150k