Young dad who stole from Russell Island RSL faces court

A young father who stole nearly $17,000 from an RSL ‘out of pure desperation’ lived it up for days in a fancy hotel, a court has heard.

A young father who stole nearly $17,000 from an RSL “out of pure desperation” lived it up for days in a fancy hotel while much of the money mysteriously disappeared, a court has heard.

Despite admitting the theft, former Russell Island man Jack Thomas Fisher, 23, walked out of Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday (November 23) a free man after he was sentenced to a suspended jail sentence.

Fisher, a father of two and former hospitality worker now employed at a meat works, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing by clerks and servants.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of entering a premises to commit an indictable offence by break.

The court heard Fisher, now living in Toowoomba, was the sole employee on site at the Russell Island RSL on August 18 when the lure of quick cash proved too strong.

A police prosecutor said Fisher was captured on CCTV as he pocketed hundreds of dollars in notes as he tallied the day’s takings about 8–9pm.

When staff noticed the missing money and viewed security footage, Fisher was fired on August 31.

Far from stopping his offending in its tracks, Fisher’s appetite was merely whetted.

The court heard that on September 3 he was again captured on CCTV as he broke into the venue about 10.30pm.

Jack Thomas Fisher, 23, leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $17,000 from the Russell Island RSL.

He broke in through a window, used a key to access one door, entered a code to access another and disabled the alarm.

He then opened the business safe and stole $16,650 in cash, the court heard.

Staff alerted police to the theft the following day.

The court heard that when police served a warrant on Fisher’s home he, his partner and children were nowhere to be found.

However, the clothes Fisher wore during his late night break-in were discovered at the property, the prosecutor said.

A police prosecutor said Fisher’s premeditated caper came undone when officers knocked on his suite door at the Meriton Suites Hotel in Brisbane on September 7.

There they would find Fisher with his pregnant partner, two kids and $6,750 in stolen cash.

According to police, the defendant came clean about his offending.

Claiming he was desperate for money to support his family, he told officers the remaining $9,900 had all been spent but would not reveal its purpose.

The court heard police found an ATM receipt for a deposit of $2,500 on September 4.

A further deposit of $2,420 to his partner’s account was discovered and an application on Fisher’s phone showed a deposit each of $500 and $350.

There is no suggestion that Fisher’s partner was aware of Fisher’s activities.

None of the funds could be recovered, the court was told.

A police prosecutor said the crime was made worse for its premeditated nature and the fact it targeted a small RSL.

Cleveland Magistrates Court heard Fisher’s theft was planned. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

“It is a lot money and the RSL does a lot of good work,” the prosecutor said.

Under questioning from Magistrate Deborah Vasta, Fisher’s defence solicitor Jane Bruxner explained her client had used the money to cover debts and his luxury accommodation.

“Three days in a hotel is not cheap,” Ms Bruxner said.

The court heard Fisher was from Deniliquin in country NSW, had no previous criminal history and wished to return to his rural roots.

Ms Bruxner acknowledged the seriousness of her client’s offending and submitted it was an unsophisticated act driven “purely by desperation”.

The defence said Fisher was the sole breadwinner for his growing family and had been struggling while working only 15 hours a week at the venue.

“I think he panicked and put his head in the sand,” Ms Bruxner said.

Fisher, for his part, admitted at the court that he was “waiting for the knock on the door”.

Ms Vasta said she was astounded that Fisher thought he could get away with his theft after “doubling down on his stupidity” and “living the high life at the Meriton”.

Noting she had to impose a punishment that would deter other employees from stealing from their workplaces, Ms Vasta also acknowledged Fisher’s lack of criminal history.

She warned him had his offending been over an extended period and had he not shown so much remorse and co-operation with police, he may very well have gotten actual jail time.

Fisher was sentenced to nine months’ prison wholly suspended over 18 months.

He was further ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and pay $9,900 in compensation.