Werribee mum Bree Hughes jailed for ripping off victims’ IDs and bank balances
A Werribee mum who stole her victim’s ID then fleeced their bank accounts deployed sophisticated methods to evade capture including going to banks in disguise. And when she was finally arrested, you’ll never guess where she tried to hide the evidence.
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A Werribee mum fleeced several victims’ bank accounts and took out big cash loans with stolen identification just to feed her drug and gambling addictions, a court has heard.
Bree Hughes weaselled more than $80,000 through her sophisticated 10-month cloak-and-dagger scheme where she entered banks in disguise.
Hughes hit banks at the city, Elsternwick, South Melbourne, St Albans, Springvale, Werribee, Docklands, Northland, Waverley Gardens and Collingwood between 2017 and 2018.
Her many victims were scattered throughout Victoria and New South Wales.
Hughes obtained her victim’s identities – including Medicare cards, driver’s licences and VicRoads licence renewals – through handbag thefts and burglaries.
The mum then altered photo ID by placing her photo over her victim’s photo in what fraud police called “sophisticated overlays”.
Hughes used the doctored ID to change her victim’s bank account details, passwords, emails and phone numbers.
She transferred her victims’ money into accounts she created with false identification.
Hughes used doctored ID and false pay slips to apply for personal loans up to $30,000.
Hughes disguised herself with long jackets, scarves, beanies and dark wigs when she went back to the banks to withdraw money.
She pocketed more than $70,000 cash and transferred $9000 transferred to a Bitcoin dealer.
Fraud police launched Operation Recessed 2018 to capture Hughes and two co-accused.
Hughes kept offending after she was charged with several offences in late 2017.
The mum’s final stand ended when she was arrested at a Point Cook house in August 2018.
She was collared inside the garage at the Dingo St property with drugs in her bra and two bundles of identity documents in her underwear.
Police also seized wigs and clothing discovered at the property.
Hughes, 30, was sentenced in the County Court on March 20 to 10 months’ jail after pleading guilty to several fraud and identity theft charges.
The court heard Hughes offended to fund her drug and gambling addictions.
Judge Howard Mason said the “sophisticated” deception was “obviously serious”.
“The use of personal identity information is a factor which causes great anxiety to individuals and potential loss to institutions,” he said.
“It has the added effect of undermining community trust in financial transactions.”
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Judge Mason took into account Hughes’ guilty plea, her remorse, her prior good character and her efforts to quit gambling through self-exclusion when sentencing.
Hughes will commence a 24-month community correction order when released.
A co-accused was also jailed for their role while another is awaiting trial.