Cocaine-addict Melbourne River Cruises bookkeeper stole to fund spiraling drug, gambling habit
A Gisborne bookkeeper and father-of-five slipped into a crippling cocaine addiction following his divorce. And after stealing mountains of cash from his CBD-based employer to fund his habit, he went to desperate lengths to pay it back.
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A cocaine-addicted former Melbourne River Cruises bookkeeper stole more than $710,000 to fund his out-of-control drug and gambling habit, a court has heard.
Adam Crowe, 42, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Monday to two counts of theft after pushing stolen cash into a petty cash account which he set up in his own name as well as his personal account.
The court heard the “trusted” financial controller, who started work at the Flinders St company in 2005, slipped into a dangerous drug addiction following the breakdown of his marriage in 2012.
As the Gisborne father of five abused cocaine several times a week, his drug debts began to pile up, prompting him to pluck funds from his unsuspecting employer.
Crowe moved $678,893 into a fake petty cash account across 163 transactions between September 2014 and February 2017 and $33,075 into his personal account across five transactions in late 2015, with the payments guised as legitimate transactions including for utility, food and alcohol.
But the secret transfers catapulted Crowe into a spiralling gambling addiction where he raced to pay back the money he fleeced.
Crowe’s lawyer said her client was punting on shifts daily through Sportsbet, TAB and other apps, before walking over to Southbank’s Crown Casino up to four times a week where he would continue his hunt for a big win after work.
She said the “overwhelming majority” of stolen money was gambled.
“He could be at the casino for hours … moving through memberships silver, gold and platinum within months,” she said.
“He continued to think that the next big win would give him the money to pay back the company.”
Crowe was found out when the company’s general manager noticed the business was borrowing large amounts to pay tax debts despite having a good financial turnover.
Crowe was confronted and admitted the haul.
“He felt relief he was in a position where he did come clean … that it did come all out,” the defence said.
The court heard Crowe had ceased gambling, engaged in gambling counselling and was working as a bookkeeper for another business until his arraignment.
Close friend and business owner Paul Hughes said he was willing to offer Crowe employment at his landscaping and construction company upon his release.
“He’d do anything for his friends and family … yes he had issues in life but the person in his life is different to where he was three to seven years ago,” Mr Hughes said.
Judge Duncan Allen said Crowe’s character after the offending may be taken into account in sentencing.
“The sense of identity as a husband, provider, father is for many people a cause for extreme emotional pressure,” Mr Allen said.
“In the three and a half years since offending he’s not offended, has stopped gambling, sought treatment (and) sought employment.”
Crowe will return to court on November 27.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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