Karen Yerbury, Regan Yerbury in court over alleged car theft fraud
A court has heard a senior sergeant with decades of experience was in crippling debt when she allegedly orchestrated her car’s fake theft for the insurance payout.
St George Shire Standard
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A senior cop was more than a million dollars in debt when police say she conspired with her daughter, a long-time friend and his “gangster” mate to fake her car’s theft for an insurance payout, a court heard.
Senior sergeant Karen Yerbury had a distinguished, decades-long career with NSW Police when she was charged with insurance fraud and attempted insurance fraud after her car was mysteriously taken – twice.
Karen Yerbury’s daughter Regan, Regan’s athletics coach Gavin Dunn and Dunn’s associate Glenn Stone have also been charged in relation.
Police will allege Regan Yerbury first made an agreement with Dunn to have the car taken by “gangsters” to obtain the insurance payout on May 19 2017.
That alleged attempt to have the car replaced with a new vehicle under insurance was thwarted when police found Karen Yerbury’s car days later and returned it to her.
The car was taken again on February 22 2018, and once again recovered – but due to internal damage the insurer wrote the car off and paid Karen Yerbury out $30,571.17.
After a lengthy investigation, police now allege Regan Yerbury enlisted Gavin Dunn to take the car in the first unsuccessful attempt to fake its theft and obtain an insurance payout, before Karen Yerbury ensured the car was taken and paid out by insurance on the second occasion.
All four accused have denied the charges and a hearing continues at Downing Centre Local Court.
Regan Yerbury has pleaded not guilty to one attempt to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception.
Karen Yerbury has pleaded not guilty to one attempt to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, actually dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, and two counts of concealing a serious indictable offence.
Glenn Stone has pleaded not guilty to two attempts to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, and actually dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage.
Dunn has pleaded guilty to attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception in relation to taking the car the first time, and not guilty to knowingly directing a criminal group, stealing a motor vehicle and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
For the first time, Crown Prosecutor Heidi Cantor proposed in court the motive for the bizarre alleged crimes.
“Karen Yerbury’s finances were dire – when asked why her credit cards were maxed out, she replied, ‘because I’m robbing Peter to pay Paul, I guess’,” Ms Cantor told the court.
“In May 2017, when the car was first taken, Karen Yerbury ended the month with $69,789 worth of credit card debt, a personal loan of $25,000, a mortgage of $509,000 on one residence and $575,000 on the other residence.”
Ms Cantor alleged Karen Yerbury saw the fake theft as a way to repair her car – which had a significantly damaged bumper that was “flapping” after she ran into a fence – without having to pay for it.
The court also heard there were alleged inconsistencies in Karen Yerbury’s version of events – and indications via text messages that Regan Yerbury had consented to the car’s removal on the first unsuccessful attempt to commit the fraud.
“It’s clear in the messages that Regan was in agreement with the car being taken,” Ms Cantor told the court.
“In getting property back (which was left inside the taken car) she says ‘all good as long as her stuff gets back and mine’ – she’s fine that the vehicle’s stolen, it’s all good, as long as our stuff gets back.”
Ms Cantor also told the court Karen Yerbury had told police she delayed reporting the car stolen because she was waiting to find out if her daughter had the car – but later confirmed she herself was the only person in possession of the car’s only set of keys.
The hearing continues before Magistrate Julie Huber.
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