Deanne Pamela Brock and Lenore Jennifer Herlihy guilty of ‘cynical’ fraud

Two Queensland mums who tried to steal $83,500 from ordinary hardworking mums and dads through a “cynical” identity theft scam have walked free.

Deanne Brock outside District Court after pleaded guilty to trying to steal $83,500 from ordinary hardworking mums and dads through identity theft. Picture: NewsWire

Two Queensland mums who tried to steal $83,500 from ordinary hardworking mums and dads through identity theft have walked free from court on good behaviour bonds.

Deanne Pamela Brock and Lenore Jennifer Herlihy, 45, appeared in the District Court in Brisbane on Tuesday where they pleaded guilty to three charges each.

They each admitted their guilt to charges of dealing in identification information that involves use of a carriage service, dealing in identification information and influencing a Commonwealth public official.

The pair admitted trying to steal a slice of the superannuation nest eggs of eight Queenslanders during the Covid-19 pandemic by assuming their identities, with victims telling the court they suffered emotional trauma and serious inconvenience.

Lenore Jennifer Herlihy.

Deanne Pamela Brock.

Judge Deborah Holliday KC in sentencing said the crimes were “serious” and the pair were only stopped from pocketing the cash due to anti-fraud protections by banks and super funds and the proactive response by some of the victims.

Ultimately they only got $2000.

Judge Holliday noted that both women were considered “principal offenders” for the purposes of sentencing, as Crown Prosecutor Clare O’Connor submitted they were unable to say “exactly what either of them did” in the fraud.

Ms O’Connor described the fraud as “cynical” and submitted the pair should serve jail time and that offenders needed to be deterred.

Judge Holliday took into account that Brock, a former director of a childcare centre, had already spent 240 days in custody before Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

While Herlihy did not spend any time behind bars for this crime, the court heard.

Lenore Jennifer Herlihy leaves court.

The court heard that the pair were able to try to steal the superannuation by using personal information including bank details found on a laptop stolen from 3D Stone in West End in 2017.

Later these details were used with prepaid phones and mygov accounts to try to rip off Queenslanders by faking applications under the Early Release Superannuation program designed to provide cash for those facing financial hardships in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Defence counsel Damien Walsh said Brock was remorseful and had written a letter of apology to the court.

Defence counsel Colin Reid, for Herlihy, said his client was a mum of three who had pleaded guilty 16 months ago and had the case hanging over her head.

Brock and Herlihy were both sentenced to two years’ prison, wholly suspended upon entering into a $1000 good behaviour bond for two years and to serve one year’s probation.

If they breach the conditions of the bond they may be required to pay the $1000, the court heard.