Roslyn Kamil Pilcher pleads guilty to defrauding $73,000 through Travel and Cruise Centre Runaway Bay

A former Gold Coast business owner ripped off more than $70,000 from hopeful holiday-makers who never got to fulfil their travel plans in just a few months. Read how she did it.

A former travel agency owner who defrauded more than $70,000 from her own clients has claimed it was a desperate bid to keep her failing business afloat.

Roslyn Kamil Pilcher, who previously ran the Travel and Cruise Centre Runaway Bay, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of fraud in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Between March 26 and June 23, 2018, Pilcher took numerous customers’ payments for cruises and other holidays that were never passed on to travel companies.

The court was told customers never received their holiday or a repayment, and the travel agency was soon put into administration.

Travel and Cruise Centre Runaway Bay after the travel agency was closed down in June 2018. Picture Mike Batterham

Police prosecutor Kimberley Murphy said Pilcher fraudulently claimed amounts as large as almost $13,000 and $10,000, and also used a victim’s credit card twice without permission.

She said Pilcher took more than $73,000 in total, of which she still owed more than $71,000.

Defence lawyer Shelby Thompson, of Brooke Winter Solicitors, said it was unlikely the 75-year-old pensioner would ever be able to repay the full amount.

Ms Thompson said Pilcher worked around the world as a nurse and midwife – often volunteering with charities – before purchasing the travel agency.

“The business was located in the Runaway Bay shopping centre, (and) was successful until renovations of that shopping centre began in about 2016,” Ms Thompson said.

Travel and Cruise Centre Runaway Bay after the travel agency was closed down in June 2018. Picture Mike Batterham

She told the court Pilcher’s business signage and foot traffic were impacted, resulting in a significant sales downturn followed by a loss of long-term staff and clients.

Ms Thompson said Pilcher was also battling breast cancer around the same time.

“The offending could be categorised as need, rather than greed,” Ms Thompson said.

“She did not use the money that was misappropriated to fund a lavish lifestyle – she used it to pay employees, to pay rent, and also in an attempt to secure other bookings.

”It is, on my instruction, the biggest regret of her life.”

Pilcher believed remaining proceeds from selling her apartment during the administration process would reimburse victims, and also tried unsuccessfully to claim insurance money on their behalf.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said actual time behind bars was necessary to deter other potential offenders, despite Pilcher’s strong work ethic and clean criminal history.

“These funds were entrusted to you for a specific purpose – many of the victims were elderly, and for that reason had a special vulnerability,” Magistrate Magee said.

Pilcher was sentenced to two years’ jail, suspended for a further 30 months after serving three months in custody.