Scoundrel Melbourne Clinic secretary Rebecca Brown stole $238,000 from blind doctor
A scoundrel secretary who stole $238,000 from her boss — a blind Melbourne Clinic psychologist — blew the dough on a car, electronics, CityLink fees and even 7-Eleven but her villainous conduct didn’t end there.
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A scoundrel secretary stole $238,000 from her boss then tried to have him done for unfair dismissal, a court has heard.
Rebecca Brown, 35, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Wednesday to a rolled-up charge of theft.
Brown fleeced The Melbourne Clinic’s Dr Eric Scott while working as his secretary between June 2012 and October 2016.
Brown, who had been Dr Scott’s secretary since 2011, was in charge of all her victim’s banking and credit card payments.
The mother of three got the job because her father Andrew McKenzie was general manager of the Richmond clinic at the time.
The court was told Mr Scott was unable to do his own banking because he was legally blind.
Brown paid herself extra wages, splashed her victim’s credit cards and transferred cash on her way to rorting $238,000.
Brown blew her victim’s cash on a Ford Territory, CityLink fees, electronic goods, Telstra, Officeworks, gift cards, Coles and 7-Eleven.
Dr Scott thought he was “not earning enough” despite “working hard”, the court heard.
Brown’s skulduggery ended after her lazy and sloppy secretarial performance was referred to Dr Scott.
The court heard Brown was “too busy” to open emails which contained much needed referrals to the battling doctor’s practise.
Brown also let her victim fall behind on body corporate fees, left his office in “disarray” and didn’t pass on important correspondence.
Dr Scott queried Brown regarding her lax performance but she stormed out of his office in a huff never to work again.
A professional called in to sort out and get Dr Scott’s office back on track discovered Brown’s thievery.
Dr Scott reported Brown to police in November 2016.
That same month Brown lodged a claim with the Fair Work Ombudsman which alleged she was unfairly dismissed by Dr Scott.
The claim was later “wholly” dismissed by the Ombudsman but not until after Dr Scott was forced to provide evidence.
In the meantime, Brown had been interviewed by police.
Brown denied the offending, claiming she never took anything without Dr Scott’s knowledge.
Brown also suggested she and Dr Scott were close and he approved her purchases because “she deserved to have nice things”.
The court was told Brown, from Kyneton, said her former partner’s alleged drug use was a significant factor.
Judge Gabriele Cannon queried how remorseful Brown was for her crime.
“The impact on the victim and his family has been immense to say the least,” Judge Cannon said.
“(The Fair Work claim) was brought on by (Brown) coming in on the attack in attempt to conceal her offending.”
Brown was remanded for sentencing on October 20.
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