ADF Sean Christopher Walden pleads guilty to deception
A Brisbane dad’s career in the Australian Defence Force has ended in a “dishonourable discharge”, after he dishonestly took and used nearly $40,000 of public money.
Southeast
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A member of the Australian Defence Force has been discharged after ploughing through nearly $40,000 of public money he was not entitled to.
Sean Christopher Walden, 38, of Hawthorne faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, December 16 and pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
The court heard the Brisbane dad dishonestly obtained $39,792.15 over 18 months, between 2017 and 2018, while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Commonwealth prosecutor Lindsay Glenn provided some background to the offending, including that Defence Force employees were characterised by their living and personal circumstances.
For example, employees who would normally reside with their dependants but must relocate for service reasons were characterised as a “member with dependent unaccompanied’.
“Members with this characterisation may receive separation allowance, rent allowance, food and utility allowances, and allowances for travel to reunite with their dependants,” Mr Glenn said.
The court heard Walden joined the Defence Force in January, 2002 and was living in Canberra with his then-wife and children in 2016.
Mr Glenn said he received a posting to Sydney in August, 2016, which was effective from January, 2017, and subsequently submitted an application to be considered a “member with dependent unaccompanied”.
He did this despite having separated from his wife in December, 2016 — a fact he did not notify the Defence of until July, 2018.
“In the intervening period — that’s January, 2017 to July, 2018 — the offender received funds he was not entitled to by virtue of his incorrect characterisation,” Mr Glenn said.
The court heard Walden had since repaid the more than $39,000 of public money he received as a result of the deception.
Mr Glenn noted the dad had no prior convictions and was otherwise of good character, but those facts were overshadowed by the nature of the offending before the court, which was neither opportunistic nor trivial.
Walden’s counsel said his pleas of guilty guaranteed his dismissal — akin to a “dishonourable discharge” — from the Defence Force.
He explained that while Walden was technically separated from his wife when he offended, he was using the money he dishonestly obtained to support and see his then-wife and children.
Nevertheless, he accepted he should have immediately notified the Defence Force of the change in his relationship status.
Magistrate Michael Quinn considered Walden’s early pleas of guilty, and accepted he was “legitimately and deeply” remorseful for his actions, before deciding an appropriate penalty.
Mr Quinn reflected on all he had lost as a result of his offending, calling his fall from a respected position in the Defence Force a “clear shame”.
Walden was sentenced to two concurrent terms of imprisonment – 12 months and three months – and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
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