Carly Regan appeals jail sentence after defrauding Waminda welfare group of $371K
A Central Coast woman whose “horrendous” gambling habit saw her defraud $371K from an Aboriginal health service has had a decision on an appeal of her sentence handed down.
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A woman’s appeal against the severity of her jail sentence for defrauding the Aboriginal women’s health organisation Waminda of nearly $372,000 has been upheld.
However, Carly Myranda Regan, 30, will still spend a year in jail with her sentence remaining at two years, however her non parole period reduced from 15 months to 12 months.
Judge Tanya Bright handed down her decision on Tuesday, saying there was no question a custodial sentence should still apply.
“A clear message must be sent to the appellant and other members of the community that if they offend in this way it will result in stern sentences,” she said. “Only a full time sentence is appropriate.”
Regan was initially sentenced in Gosford Local Court in July for defrauding Waminda, in Nowra, where she worked as an IT officer in 2018.
Regan pleaded guilty to one charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception, with the court hearing she would put around $3000 into poker machines a day.
The court facts state that between March and September 2018 Regan used her position at Waminda to purchase 163 mobile phones, 158 of which were sent to her home address in Bomaderry and the other five to a Travel Lodge in Sydney where she was staying for work training courses.
She then sold the phones through Facebook and various other online marketplaces.
She resigned from Waminda after people started asking why the Telstra bill was rising to $8000-$9000 a month and $18,000 in August 2018.
The total loss to Waminda was $371,798.97 of which Telstra “forgave” the organisation $93,400 and another $250,000 was recouped on insurance. Waminda was left $27,000 in the red.
Regan’s defence lawyer Stuart Ogilvy said Regan had been participating in counselling for her gambling addiction and could continue to seek help if she was given a sentence served in the community.
However Judge Bright, who said she was surprised the offence was dealt with in the Local Court considering the amount of money involved, upheld the custodial sentence.
When sentenced in July, Magistrate Peter Barnett gave Regan the maximum penalty permitted by the Local Court.
The court heard when Regan moved to the coast after her time at Waminda she got another IT job with Central Coast Council where she managed to obtain 10 phones and on-sell them.
She was fired, charged with larceny and disposing of stolen property and given a six month ICO and community service hours.
Regan will be eligible for parole on July 15 2021.