Louisa Rose Williams ripped off thousands in cash from ex-employer Guzman y Gomez Nerang

A Gold Coast woman has been slammed for her “outrageous” plot to rip off thousands of dollars from her employer - all while still under a suspended jail term for her last scheme. FULL DETAILS

Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

A Gold Coast serial fraudster has avoided time behind bars after ripping off thousands of dollars in cash from her fast food employer.

Guzman Y Gomez Nerang floor manager Louisa Rose Williams was found through an internal investigation to be processing a suspiciously large number of refunds – significantly more than any other employee – between January 1 and May 16 last year.

Southport Magistrates Court was told Williams would arrive early for her morning shift and spend an extended period at the safe before moving to the industrial-sized fridge – a known blind spot for the store’s CCTV cameras.

Police prosecutor Matt Thompson said the 26-year-old then processed refunds across several cash registers to balance the cash taken from the safe, clearing the screens to avoid detection.

Senior Constable Thompson said Williams ripped off about $4000 in total.

Williams denied taking the cash during a later interview with police, claiming she was balancing the tills to avoid looking bad.

The court was told Williams’ criminal history was littered with fraud offences – including ripping people off through Gumtree ads – and that she was still under a suspended jail term at the time of her latest scheme.

Defence lawyer Shannon Fletcher said her client knew she had reached the end of the court’s leniency, but that being sent to jail would derail her financial stability and likely leave her partner unable to support themselves on a sole income.

Ms Fletcher said Williams was now working as a receptionist and training assistant, and had written a letter of apology to her former employer in addition to aiming to fully repay the stolen cash within six months.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse said she could not see Williams’ behaviour changing until she spent time in jail, noting she was still paying back the last sum she defrauded.

“She’s got all the right words to say (in the letter),” Ms Dowse said.

“The first sentence: ‘I hope this letter reaches you in a moment of peace and understanding …’ – how could he have peace and understanding when he’s got his supervisor stealing from him?

“Outrageous, outrageous, outrageous in the extreme.”

Williams pleaded guilty to one count of fraud as an employee.

She was sentenced to 12 months’ jail with immediate parole release and ordered to pay full restitution. Her three-month suspended sentence was also activated with immediate parole.

Originally published as Louisa Rose Williams ripped off thousands in cash from ex-employer Guzman y Gomez Nerang