Townsville Vale Hotel former gaming manager Nikkita Faye Clutterbuck sentenced over fraud offence

A Townsville pub worker “impulsively” used her employer’s money to place a $30,000 bet on Keno to help fund her mother’s gambling addiction.

Nikkita Faye Clutterbuck pleaded guilty to fraud – dishonestly cause detriment by employee. Picture: Supplied.

A Townsville pub worker “impulsively” used her employer’s money to place a $30,200 bet on Keno to help fund her mother’s gambling addiction, a court has heard.

Nikkita Faye Clutterbuck, 24, pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Luay Allawy said she was working as the Vale Hotel’s gaming manager when she placed 22 credit bets, without making payment, during her shift on November 22, 2021.

She cancelled $700 in bets and won $18,000, leaving the pub, which was owned by the ALH Group, with a loss of $11,500.

“At about 5.15pm, Tabcorp phoned the victim’s business to confirm the large Keno bet activity, as to whether it was legitimate or otherwise,” Mr Allawy said.

“They were put through to (Clutterbuck), who advised that there was a male punter in the bar betting big.”

The next day, she returned to the hotel and confessed what she had done, and they reported the matter to police.

Following a disciplinary meeting, Clutterbuck signed a resignation letter and authorised for $1,685.95 in annual leave to be withheld.

Supported by a large contingent of people in the public gallery, she pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday to the charge of fraud – dishonestly causing detriment by an employee.

Nikkita Faye Clutterbuck placed to a massive bet on Keno using the Vale Hotel's money. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Allawy described the offending as a breach of trust for personal gain, which was aggravated when she attempted to conceal it.

The ALH Group was still owed $9814.05, for which restitution was sought.

He regarded 18 months imprisonment as appropriate.

Defence lawyer Hack said her client said Clutterbuck had experienced a traumatic childhood and lived with a mental condition for which “impulsivity” was one of the symptoms.

Clutterbuck had been experiencing financial hardship and “her mother was asking for money, on occasion, to help fund her gambling addiction”.

She started borrowing money from payday lenders and had $200 due on the day of the offence, leading to her “regrettable decision”.

Tendering a character reference and letter of apology, Ms Hack said the offending was a “lapse in judgment” which was “impulsive and completely out of character”.

Having found another job as a cashier at Australia Post, she said her client intended to pay back the money, in addition to her other debts and legal fees.

She asked that the term of imprisonment be wholly suspended.

Magistrate Ross Mack acknowledged that was an attempt to get out of financial trouble, which “wasn’t sophisticated, it was a spur of the moment thing”.

“You can’t abuse the position of trust that you’re in to feather your nest,” he said.

“In this case it was a poor effort and was never going to succeed … if you had a windfall win, you would have had to identify yourself to get the money.”

Urging her to learn from the experience, he sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for a two year operational period.

A conviction was recorded and she was ordered to pay $9814 in restitution.

Originally published as Townsville Vale Hotel former gaming manager Nikkita Faye Clutterbuck sentenced over fraud offence