Former swimming teacher Sasha Cordes jailed for dishonestly obtaining $97,000 tax refund

A former swimming teacher who dishonestly obtained a tax refund of more than $97,000 and blew most of the money on drugs will spend 15 months in jail.

A former swimming teacher who dishonestly obtained a tax refund of more than $97,000 and blew most of the money on drugs has been jailed for 15 months.

Sasha Teresa Elizabeth Cordes, 30, was found guilty by a jury in Brisbane District Court of 30 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

She also was found guilty of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception.

Cordes also tried to get a tax refund of $181,947 but after an Australian Tax Office audit her claims were rejected, after she could not provide substantiating documents.

Judge Michael Williamson said Cordes then tried to provide amended statements, to get the ATO to reconsider, showing a willingness to persist with the offending.

Nine of the offences were committed while Cordes, who has previous criminal convictions, was on parole for other offences.

Cordes, who was aged 23 to 25 when she committed the offences, had not attempted to repay any of the money.

Judge Williamson said between November, 2014 and June, 2016, Cordes lodged 43 statements with the ATO, using an online facility.

The judge said Cordes provided false information to obtain a tax refund of $97,114 to which she was not entitled.

The money was paid into Cordes’s bank account.

Judge Williamson said Cordes’s offending was deliberate, but not the product of a sophisticated system.

The judge said it was explained by her drug use.

He said more than $97,000 was spent on methamphetamines and cannabis and day to day expenses.

The court was told Cordes began offending after the breakdown of the relationship with her former partner, who moved to NSW.

As result of being charged and convicted Cordes lost her blue card, preventing her from teaching swimming to children.

Judge Williamson said Cordes deceived a system that relied on people self-reporting and providing true and correct information.

He sentenced Cordes to three years jail, with release after 15 months on a two-year $1000 good behaviour bond, and declared the 20 days she had spent in custody was time served.

Cordes was ordered to repay $97,114 to the Commonwealth.