Ex-NRL WAG Belinda Simmonds dodges jail after ‘reprehensible’ $90k childcare fraud
The wife of ex-NRL winger Reece Simmonds has learned her fate after swindling almost $100,000 from a childcare centre with the money spent on furniture, tyres and Christmas shopping.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former NRL WAG has avoided being sent to jail for shamelessly swindling more than $90,000 from a NSW south coast not-for-profit childcare centre.
Magistrate Michael O‘Brien slammed Belinda Jane Simmonds, the wife of former Dragons winger Reece Simmonds, for her “reprehensible” crimes.
She was the finance manager for not-for-profit Shellharbour Kiama Family Day Care when she stole $90,875 between 2013 to 2018.
Reece Simmonds is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Simmonds used the company card as if it were her own, spending hundreds of dollars at a time on shopping sprees at Kmart, Target, The Body Shop and Freedom Furniture.
Court documents said the mother-of-three used the childcare centre’s cash for a $543 shop at Woolworths in Fairy Meadow, a short drive from her Towradgi home, as well as more than $1000 for a new set of tyres and wheel alignment at Jax Tyres.
Simmonds, 42, appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday to be sentenced after previously entering a belated guilty plea to two charges of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
The offences occurred immediately after the retirement of her husband who played 57 games in the NRL before coaching Illawarra rugby league club Wests Red Devils.
The childcare centre caught wind of Simmonds fraudulent behaviour and fired her in July, 2018, with a subsequent police investigation leading to a search of her Marine Pde abode in Towradgi.
Police seized items believed to be purchased using the childcare centre’s money, including the Freedom Furniture dining set, before placing Simmonds under arrest.
Investigations uncovered a revealing message Simmonds sent to a friend in the weeks leading up to her sacking from the childcare provider.
“As soon as I hear my laugh out loud I feel so shameful that in such f---ing sh-t times I can even find it within myself to smile,” part of the message said.
“I haven’t had any tears falling since midday though so I might be almost dried up. I still cannot believe I was that f---ing stupid.
“I cannot believe that even though I knew what I was doing was so-so f---ing wrong, I continued to do it.
“I still cannot believe that person is inside me. I hate her … Trying to be as normal as I can so I don‘t drag Reece and the kids any lower.”
In court on Wednesday, Simmonds‘ lawyer Matt Ward indicated a desire to keep up appearances and to give off an “impression that everything was okay” had driven his client’s actions.
“Your offending conduct, I’m sure you would concede, was reprehensible irrespective of what motivated you,” Mr O’Brien said to Simmonds, whose husband was in court to support her.
“It is extremely disappointing that someone with an otherwise impeccable record would engage in such conduct over a considerable period of time that warrants a conviction and a sentence of imprisonment.”
Mr O’Brien sentenced Simmonds to an intensive corrections order – a jail term to be served in the community – for two years.
Simmonds, who is now a part-time beautician, was also ordered to payback the entire amount and complete 500 hours of community service.
The court also ordered for the seized items from the police raid at the Simmonds home be handed over to the childcare centre.
Jewish landlady says ‘anybody would be offended’ by tenant’s Nazi sign
The Jewish landlady of a top Sydney restaurateur arrested for carrying a sign featuring a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine rally has denounced his actions.
‘Stark betrayal’: Couple fleeced grandpa’s retirement fund
A grandfather defrauded of $700,000 by his daughter and son-in-law – so they could gamble it away and splurge on a jet ski – says the crime has left him unable to retire.