Regan Yerbury, Karen Yerbury, Gavin Dunn and Glenn Stone charged with fraud
A cop, cheerleader, athletics coach and associate have been charged over an alleged scheme to fake the theft of the police officer’s car. All before the man jailed for ‘stealing the vehicle’ allegedly called the police on them from behind bars.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An ex-NRL cheerleader, her police officer mother, her former athletics coach and his associate allegedly cooked up a haphazard scheme to fake the theft of the family car for a five-figure insurance payout – twice.
Registered nurse Regan Yerbury, Senior Sergeant Karen Yerbury, athletics coach Gavin Dunn and his friend Glenn Stone faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday charged over their alleged attempts to feign the robbery of Karen Yerbury’s Mazda CX-5 in May 2017, and again in February 2018.
Karen Yerbury then allegedly claimed a $30,571.17 insurance payout on the car, bought through a salary sacrifice arrangement with her employers at the NSW Police Force, from Swann Insurance.
However, Crown prosecutor Kate Kenny will allege the car was not stolen on either occasion, but instead taken with Karen Yerbury’s knowledge and permission for an easy financial windfall.
“On May 19 2017, Karen Yerbury called the Police Assistance Line and reported her vehicle stolen – that it had been taken from her driveway,” Ms Kenny told Magistrate Julie Huber on Monday.
“But it wasn’t stolen – it was taken with permission and by private arrangement.”
The vehicle was found in a Sylvania car park with no damage to the ignition, locks or windows before history allegedly repeated itself nine months later.
“Fast forward to February 2018, it happened all over again – the same vehicle was taken from the same residence,” Ms Kenny told the court.
“The vehicle had allegedly been taken by a man... at the direction of Glenn Stone and (another man) he knew as Garry – (allegedly) Gavin Dunn, (who said) the job was ‘for a lady copper who lives on the highway’ and she had done it before.”
All four have pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including dishonestly obtaining financial advantage.
The court heard the alleged scam came to light when a man – who is now serving jail time for taking and driving Karen Yerbury’s car in February 2018 – contacted police from behind bars to allege he had been enlisted to fake the vehicle’s theft.
Karen Yerbury had reported the car stolen to police on February 26, 2018 and lodged an insurance claim for the vehicle two days later on the basis it had been stolen.
Detective Sergeant Wesley Reddenbach from St George Police Area Command testified a man was arrested with Karen Yerbury’s Mazda and its keys in Caringbah on March 10, 2018 and charged with taking and driving the car without the owner’s permission.
Police then began investigating the Yerburys, Dunn and Stone after the man contacted them with his allegations in October 2018.
All four were charged in December 2018 and now face a five-day hearing before Ms Huber.
The Crown case will rely on call records and text messages between the co-accused about both alleged attempts to spirit the vehicle away from the Yerburys’ Engadine home.
Ms Kenny told the court Regan Yerbury allegedly arranged for Dunn to take the vehicle with Stone’s assistance before police allege Karen Yerbury made a false report of its theft from her driveway.
“Regan Yerbury and Gavin Dunn discussed this very vehicle over text, and the final message had Gavin Dunn saying ‘you don’t pay for sh** until you get your payment’,” Ms Kenny told the court.
“The Crown case is that Regan Yerbury and Gavin Dunn and Karen Yerbury and Glenn Stone conspired to take the vehicle for the purpose of lodging a false insurance claim.”
A man, and Regan Yerbury’s former partner are among the witnesses the Crown will call in the case against the four co-accused.