Julia Cole, 54, faces Kempsey court for alleged Hurford Hardwood timber fraud payments

A Kempsey woman allegedly defrauded a well-known northern NSW timber company out of more than $450,000 by creating a bogus log supply company.

Kempsey Court.

A Kempsey woman allegedly fleeced a well-known Northern NSW timber company of more than $400,000 by creating a bogus log supply company and racking up payments over several months.

Julia Cole faced Kempsey Local Court on Wednesday flanked by a number of female supporters.

The 54-year-old has not entered pleas to 15 separate charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

All charges relate to the same alleged victim – Hurford Hardwood, Kempsey.

Hurford Hardwood is a third generation family business operating across Northern NSW with a sawmill and processing facility at Yarravel in West Kempsey.

Hurfords is a third generation family business operating across northern NSW.

Police allege Cole made up a false timber log supplier called ‘Kay Coler’ to draw 15 payments from the company.

Court documents list Yarravel as the location where it’s the alleged the crimes took place from February to December last year.

Police allege payments ranged from about $11,000 to $27,000 from February to October.

It’s alleged final payments were made to the fake ‘Kay Coler’ account of $54,544.96 on November 15 and $134 378.53 on December 4.

In total, it’s alleged Cole fraudulently obtained $451,234.

Cole is also charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime (an orange ute).

Her case is due to return to Kempsey court on January 22 next year.

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