Point Cook mum Kristy Carey avoids jail time for stealing $150,000 from Mantec Projects
A Point Cook mum who fleeced $150,000 from her ex-boss — a prominent Melbourne developer of high-end projects including car dealerships, schools and kindergartens — will not go to jail despite not paying back a cent. Here’s why.
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A Point Cook mum swindled $150,000 from her ex-boss because she craved a “more comfortable” lifestyle, a court has heard.
Kristy Carey, 42, was sentenced in the County Court to a three-year community correction order after pleading guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Carey was the bookkeeper and office manager for Point Cook-based developer Mantec Projects when she fleeced $155,742 between March 2018 and April 2019.
Carey, who commenced at Mantec in January 2018, siphoned company cash into her own bank account.
The court heard Carey — who had access to the company’s business accounts — had “come across a fault” in Mantec’s accounting software.
The mother of two diverted payments bound for third-party supplier Barwon Timber into her own account.
Carey also created “shadow” invoices that were paid directly into her bank account.
The court heard Carey “told herself” it would be a “one-off deception” but she persisted.
Her skulduggery was uncovered by Mantec director Christopher Mantello in April 2019.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Mantello said the theft had caused “pressure and stress” for him and his then pregnant wife.
Mr Mantello said he also had “difficulty” handling the other staff’s “reaction” to the crime.
Mantec has delivered several high-end commercial projects across Melbourne including redeveloping Doncaster Hyundai and Werribee Renault.
The developer, which has also delivered several community projects including construction of new multipurpose classrooms at Stella Maris Primary School in Point Cook, a kindergarten in Sunshine and a childcare centre in Hoppers Crossing, recovered the stolen cash via insurance.
The court heard Carey has not repaid any money and the insurance company is not seeking compensation.
Carey, a former Aussie Loans mortgage broker, was encouraged by a “culture of appearances” which existed in her local community, the court heard.
She blew the cash on “lifestyle benefits” including clearing debt and wanting a “more comfortable” lifestyle for her family.
Judge Michael Bourke said Carey committed “serious offending”.
“It was prolonged and involved a very substantial level of financial advantage,” he said.
“As is common to this offending it was a major breach of trust.”
Judge Bourke took into account Carey’s early guilty plea, her co-operation with investigators, her genuine remorse and her “good” rehabilitation prospects.
Judge Bourke also accepted Carey had anxiety about making sure her family were looked after.
“I have come to the conclusion that this not just a case of greed or self-indulgence,” Judge Bourke said.
“You present to me as a very fragile person … imprisonment in my view would be a much greater hardship for you than may others.”
Judge Bourke ordered Carey must only repay $13,000 compensation to cover Mantec’s shortfall from the insurance excess.
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