Former Dragons player Reece Simmonds’ wife Belinda has hearing date set over alleged fraud

The wife of a former St George Illawarra Dragons star is accused of spending thousands on clothes and beauty treatments, after allegedly stealing more than $450,000 from her former employer.

The wife of a former St George Illawarra Dragons star Reece Simmonds has had a hearing date set more than more years after she was charged over allegedly stealing more than $450,000 from her former employer.

Former WAG Belinda Simmonds is accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, Kiama Shellharbour Family Daycare Centre between 2013 and 2018.

The mother-of-three was charged with 41 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial gain by deception in December 2018 following a lengthy police investigation.

Wife of former St George Illawarra Dragons Star Reece Simmonds, Belinda Simmonds, will face a hearing in March over fraud charges. Picture: Instagram

Ms Simmonds, who is on bail, has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and did not appear when a hearing date of March 2 was set in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

Police allege Ms Simmons transferred $100,502 from the daycare’s account into her own Greater Bank account on 207 separate occasions between 2013 and 2018.

Between the 2014 and 2018 financial years, she is also accused of paying herself more than $147,000 in extra wages and annual leave.

According to court documents, Ms Simmonds allegedly used money from the daycare’s accounts to pay for her own lavish lifestyle.

Former WAG Belinda Simmonds is accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, Kiama Shellharbour Family Daycare Centre between 2013 and 2018.

Police allege on four separate occasions she used the daycare’s money to pay for more than $1100 dollars in treatments like Botox and laser hair removal at Laser Clinics Shellharbour, and $3900 on workout gear from Lorna Jane.

The mother-of-three is also accused of using the daycare’s money to spruce up her beachside Towradgi home.

In April 2016, she allegedly spent more than $1900 on a new dining table, bench and chairs at Freedom Furniture.

In February 2017, she spent $1013 on a new dryer, kettle and four-slice toaster and one two separate occasions in 2017 and 2018, Ms Simmonds spent a further $741 at Bunnings Warehouse using company cash.

Payments to both Edmund Rice College and Towradgi Public School for school fees were allegedly also made using company funds, according to court documents.

Belinda Simmonds was charged with 41 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial gain by deception in December 2018 following a lengthy police investigation.

Ms Simmonds allegedly made payments from the daycare centre’s accounts to the wife and daughter of then Dragons coach Paul McGregor.

Court documents allege Ms Simmonds transferred Mr McGregor’s daughter Demi $291 and wife Nicole $620 for “personal reasons”. Neither woman has been charged and are no accused of any wrongdoing.

From 2016 to 2018, Ms Simmonds is also alleged to have paid more than $4900 to Telstra for personal phone bills using the daycare’s funds.

Police allege Ms Simmonds used company money to pay off a personal loan with Lion Finance to the value of $4600.

Between 2017 and 2018, Ms Simmonds is also accused of spending more than $4000 on trips to Kingscliffe and Tingarra Resorts.

Ms Simmonds is due to reappear in court in March.