Robyn Lunney fronts court for fleecing another business
A serial fraudster has racked up another victim after stealing $122,000 from a Melbourne business while on bail on charges of fleecing another company of more than $500,000.
South East
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A dishonest bookkeeper serving a prison sentence for fleecing a Melbourne business of more than $500,000 has admitted stealing $122,000 from a family run company within months of starting work.
Robyn Lunney pleaded guilty in the County Court on Wednesday to charges of theft, obtaining property by deception and obtaining a financial advantage by deception from Keysborough-based Norm Phillips and Staff.
Wednesday’s appearance was the fourth time the 48-year-old had appeared in court since 2007 on charges of stealing money from her employers.
In April, she was sentenced to five years’ and nine months’ imprisonment for swindling Cut Price Kitchens of more than $500,000 while working as a bookkeeper.
While on bail for that offending, Lunney was hired by Norm Phillips and Staff in July 2023 as an office manager and bookkeeper when she diverted 14 payments totalling $122,481 from the business to her own account between August and December of that year.
Judge Frances Dalziel imposed an additional 13 months jail term to the five years and nine months she’s serving and will be eligible for parole in February 2029.
“You are a recidivist fraudster who has now cheated on four employers,” Judge Dalziel said.
Her offending was discovered when Norm Phillips and Staff owner Matthew Phillips became suspicious after Lunney requested urgent authorisation of a multi batch payment.
ANZ Bank advised Mr Phillips that a large amount was owed on the company credit card and a new office manager discovered several discrepancies in payments.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Phillips said he had to transfer funds from his account to keep the business running and that it would take his company years to get back to a financially stable position.
“The way Robyn left the accounting side of our MYOB operating system was disastrous. It has taken my new office manager and my accountant over three to four months to properly adjust and balance all the incorrect information she has entered into the systems,” he said.
Mr Phillip said he looked at new employees with a level of distrust and was extremely nervous on matters pertaining to finance and banking.
Lunney’s lawyer James Portelli said she had reached rock bottom and was making a genuine effort to forge ahead in life through initiatives such as counselling.
He highlighted Lunney’s complex background of trauma and mental health struggles from a young age and estrangement from her two daughters after her sentence in April.
Judge Dalziel said given Lunney’s history of defrauding her employers, her prospects for rehabilitation was “guarded” at best.
