Scoundrel secretary Rebecca Brown jailed for fleecing blind Richmond doctor boss
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 instead of fessing up to her crime she accused her victim of unfair dismissal.
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A scoundrel secretary who stole $238,000 from her boss then tried to have him done for unfair dismissal has been jailed.
Rebecca Brown, 35, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a minimum 18 months’ jail after pleading guilty 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 said Brown’s “calculated” conduct “must be denounced”.
“You grossly breached your victim’s trust each time you stole from him,” Judge Cannon said.
“This was callous and brazen offending Miss Brown.”
Judge Cannon said the victim suffered emotional and physical trauma at the hands of Brown.
“I must say that suffering has been immense,” Judge Cannon said.
Judge Cannon said the doctor suffered health issues and collapsed at work.
She also highlighted the scoundrel’s attempt to mask her offending via the bogus Fair Work claim.
This included spending $42,000 on legal fees and dealing with a “slur on his name” after Brown’s lawyer at the Fair Work hearing suggested a “man in Dr Scott’s position” would want to give his 31-year-old female client money.
Judge Cannon said Dr Scott found these comments extremely hurtful.
Brown – who appeared via videolink from the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre – was jailed for a maximum three years.
Brown was also ordered to repay Dr Scott.
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