Toowoomba woman Rebecca Jayne Robinson, 44, steals upwards of $12k from employer

For months a habitual swindler was funnelling thousands in fraudulent paychecks to another employee – turns out they didn’t exist.

Rebecca Jayne Robinson outside Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday October 15. Picture: The Chronicle

A Toowoomba woman said she created a fake identity to steal thousands from her employer in a misguided attempt to help her ailing grandmother.

Rebecca Jayne Robinson, 44, pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday to multiple fraud and stealing offences committed against her former employer while she was acting as an administration assistant.

The court heard Ms Robinson created a fake employee profile under the name ‘Raymond Robinson’ then, over two months, issued $12,706.75 worth in fraudulent paychecks to the straw man account and a genuine employee profile that was linked to her bank account.

She also used $2457.75 in company funds to purchase trade tools, only some of which were later located in a search of her property.

Prosecution said Ms Robinson had a long history of fraud dating back to 2008, previously being sentenced for similar charges in 2017.

“She is someone who does continue to come before the court for these types of offences,” the prosecutor said.

“She has been given the opportunity of probation in the past as well,” she said.

Defence solicitor Nathan Bouchier of Bouchier Khan Lawyers said Ms Robinson, who had struggled with severe mental health issues since childhood, had fallen down a dark path following a personal tragedy.

“She was suffering and has suffered documented mental health issues for many years,” Mr Bouchier said.

He said Ms Robinson was driven to take the funds to support her ageing grandmother.

“It came to her attention her grandmother had not been paying her rates on the property and there was about twelve thousand dollars outstanding,” he said.

“She took out a loan in order to pay the outstanding rates but then after the decline in her mental health and an apprehension for stealing items from a news agency she believed she would be going to jail.

“She became fearful that her grandmother would be evicted and, in the circumstances of her mental health distress, she made the decision to start taking the money from her employer.

Mr Bouchier said Ms Robinson had made efforts to tackle her mental health in the years past and had already collected $7000 to repay her former employers.

“And she’s willing to pay off the rest of the restitution through SPER,” Mr Bouchier said.

Magistrate Mark Howden warned Ms Robinson that the court had almost exhausted every option to help her rehabilitate in the community.

“While there may be some understanding and background to this offending it does not provide you any excuse whatsoever.

“Make no mistake about it, you are on the cusp of going to jail and going to jail for some time.

Ms Robinson was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years.

“That’s much longer than I would normally grant but I want this to hang over your head as a reminder to you that when you become stressed in the future, or whatever may happen with your mental health you need to make other choices,” Magistrate Howden said.

She was further ordered to pay $15,164.40 in restitution to her former employer.

Originally published as Toowoomba woman Rebecca Jayne Robinson, 44, steals upwards of $12k from employer