Mildura Magistrates’ Court Elise Dawes charged with $37,636 in ATO fraud

A dole-bludging, ice-smoking Mildura mum rorted the ATO out of almost $40,000 in offending likened to stealing a car straight from the dealership.

Elise Dawes pleaded guilty to charges of both attempted tax fraud and tax fraud.

A Mildura mum has taken an illegal advantage of a loophole in the tax system to pocket almost $40,000 in false GST claims.

Elise Dawes pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to defraud the tax office and successfully gaining $37,636 in fake GST claims.

Between May 4 and May 10 Dawes defrauded the tax office out of $37,636 by lodging false GST claims for a business that didn’t exist.

In June Dawes attempted to make a $39,997 fraudulent tax claim but was rejected by the ATO.

Magistrate Russell Kelly said it was like stealing a brand-new car straight off the lot and asked Dawes’ lawyer to convince him not to send her to jail.

“There is some planning that has gone into this,’’ he said.

“It’s the same as stealing a new motor car and driving it off the lot and down the street.

“Why shouldn’t I send her to jail? Send her to jail for six months and send a message to the community. She still uses ice and rolls along like nothing happened — there has got be some consequences.”

Dawes’ lawyer Peter DeLorenzo said similar matters dealt with in the County Court hadn’t received jail time.

“In the County Court there have been similar matters that got deferred sentences, she indicates that she can pay back $5000 today,” he said.

Mr Kelly sentenced Dawes to four months in jail on each charge, however both sentences have been suspended and will run concurrently.

Mr Kelly warned her that this was her only chance to avoid jail and should she find herself before the courts she would be imprisoned.

“This is high level criminal behaviour, you’ve got to take control of your life and get help,” he said.

“This is your last chance to avoid a jail term, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got kids at home or who you’re looking after.”