Michelle Barnes fronts court for stealing more than $115,000 from pensioner

A bookseller cunningly gained the trust of a vulnerable pensioner before swindling more than $115,000 from her accounts over seven years.

Michelle Barnes exploited her relationship with a disable pensioner and stole more than $115,000 from her accounts.

A children’s bookseller who befriended a pensioner before fleecing her of more than $115,000 has avoided jail by the “narrowest of margins”.

Michelle Barnes pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft committed between May 2013 and March 2020 and comprised of 385 payments made from the victim’s online banking into her personal or home loan accounts.

The 49-year-old was sentenced by the County Court to a two-year community corrections order.

Judge Sarah Dawes said Barnes exploited her friendship with the female victim, aged between 55 and 62 years, who was receiving a disability support pension.

Barnes put out an advertisement to sell children’s books in 2011 and was contacted by the victim.

She went to her home to show the books and a friendship began.

A pensioner has had to cut her overseas holiday after her friend Michelle Barnes swindled her of more than $115,000.

Barnes learnt the victim did not have a car, that she lacked support, and was due to receive a considerable inheritance which she had planned to use on an overseas holiday.

In 2012, she told the victim she wanted to move closer to where she lived so she would not have to travel far to help her.

Barnes found a property to buy in Ballan and the victim agreed to contribute $6000 towards deposit and did not expect to be repaid.

In early 2023, Barnes suggested she should have access to the victim’s bank accounts so she could pay the bills while the victim was away on holidays with another friend.

Barnes was so highly regarded by the victim and her friend that they altered their wills to include her as a beneficiary.

The holidaying duo had to cut short their overseas trip between May and July 2013 after running out of money.

Barnes stole about $24,000 over those two months.

By March 2020, the victim did not have enough money for food and a friend helped her review her bank statements.

She removed Barnes’ third party access to her accounts and reported the matter to police.

“Your conduct was disgraceful. It involved a level of calculation and persistence. You had time to reflect on your dishonesty throughout the lengthy period yet chose to continue with it,” Judge Dawes said.

“The victim was a vulnerable pensioner who relied on your caring relationship. You abused your friendship.”

All of the victim’s money is likely to be repaid, due to the ample equity in Barnes’ property once the confiscation order is finalised.