Tamara Kate Hughes pleads guilty to fraud
An employee at a popular venue in beachside village Woodgate defrauded her employer out of hundreds of dollars by setting up dodgy bar tabs.
Bundaberg
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A popular Woodgate social venue was defrauded hundreds of dollars after one of its own employees voided dozens of “dishonest” transactions over the period of one month.
Tamara Kate Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of using a restricted computer without consent in the Childers Magistrates Court on Friday March 31, 2023.
The court heard Hughes had been employed by the Woodgate Bowls Club for more than two years when she began defrauding the venue.
The court was told the 27-year-old started several bar and restaurant tabs throughout January 2023 for herself, friends and her partner.
Hughes would then log into the restaurant‘s system using a trainee login and void the tabs.
“This was not a one off event,” prosecutor Leon Casey told the court.
“These offences occurred over a series of dates.”
The court heard over the prolonged period the mother-of-two had defrauded the Woodgate Bowls Club of $207.45.
The court heard as a result of her crimes, Hughes had lost her job after the incidents were brought to the attention of the venue‘s president.
The court was told that Hughes then voluntarily attended the Childers Police Station.
Magistrate J. Milburn said criminal acts such as hers were “often difficult to detect”.
“Over the period of nearly a month you acted in a way that was a betrayal of trust to your employer,” he said.
“It was a dishonest act that goes to the very fabric of trust and community.”
Mr Milburn decided not to record a conviction due to an early plea of guilty and Hughes’ desire to continue working in the hospitality industry.
Hughes was fined $1000 and restitution was sought for the $204.75, both referred to SPER.
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