Andrea Dedic: Cornubia woman sentenced for $15K scam on friends

A young southeast Queensland woman left three of her close friends broken people after taking thousands for non-existent Apple products, a court has heard.

A Logan court has heard heartbreaking details of how a fraudster who claimed to be able to source discounted Apple products rorted more than $15,000 from three hapless friends, one of whom was left unable to afford food or fuel after losing $9800.

Cornubia woman Andrea Dedic, 31, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment but granted immediate court-ordered parole after spending a night in custody while Beenleigh Magistrate Gary Finger considered her sentence.

Cornubia woman Andrea Dedic, 31. Picture: Alex Treacy

Ultimately, Dedic, who pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, as well a single count each of shoplifting and driving unlicensed, was saved from a longer stint behind bars due to the fact her lawyers held the full restitution amount, $15,334, in a trust account to repay the victims.

Dedic pleaded guilty to the offences, which were committed mostly between February – June 2019, back in November last year, leading to the loss of her position with an insurance company.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on Thursday Dedic targeted three friends for her scams, which involved convincing them her “cousin’s friend” was an employee of Apple and could obtain Apple products on the cheap.

From her three friends, Dedic obtained sums of $9800, $3630, and $1904.

The female friend who lost $9800 to Dedic was particularly affected by Dedic’s actions, the court heard.

According to her victim impact statement, she was left “unable to afford fuel or food” for a period of time and the stress led to a breakdown in her relationship and a fear of leaving home.

The court heard Dedic repeatedly “encouraged” her to keep depositing money into her account, 10 times in total.

The friend who lost $3600 made seven deposits to Dedic.

After the friends complained to Dedic on Facebook about their lack of goods, she blocked them.

When interviewed by police, Dedic said it was “dumb s***” but that she didn’t solicit the deposits and tried to repay them, the court heard.

Dedic previously fronted court in 2015 for fraud-type offences, receiving a $1000 but receiving the benefit of not having convictions recorded.

Mr Finger told her on Friday she “ought to be ashamed” of her offending and that he “thought long and hard about sending (Dedic) to prison”.

In addition to the two years’ imprisonment with immediate court-ordered parole after serving one night in custody, he fined Dedic $900 total for the shoplifting and driving unlicensed.

Convictions were automatically recorded for all charges.

MORE BEENLEIGH COURT REPORTS

Addict jailed for Logan school-zone rampage in stolen car

Hairdresser plunders cash to feed drug addiction

Ice-ravaged motorbike thief jailed for 24 offences