Former Athletes Foot manager Natalya Rudeforth fronts Ringwood court after $12k refund theft

An Athlete’s Foot manager at a large shopping centre in Melbourne’s east has swindled more than $12,000 after she processed dozens of dodgy refunds.

A Forest Hill Athlete’s Foot employee has stolen more than $12,000 from her own store. Picture: David Clark

An Athlete’s Foot manager has funnelled more than $12,000 into her own bank account through a fake refund scheme.

Natalya Rudeforth, 24, appeared before the Ringwood Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to the refund sham.

The Vermont woman made 27 fraudulent returns from January to March last year.

Natalya Rudeforth worked at the Forest Hill Athlete’s Foot store. Picture: Geoff Potter

Rudeforth transferred the fake refunds into her own bank account after she claimed they were from online sales.

An internal work investigation revealed the products were not returned to the store and she had pocketed the $12,249.

At the time of the scam, Rudeforth had worked at the store for less than a year.

The court heard Rudeforth, who is pregnant with her first child, was “extremely embarrassed and ashamed” of her actions.

She was fired in April 2024.

Rudeforth, who has not yet repaid the money, was sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order where she will have to complete 120 hours of community work.

She was also order to repay the funds.