Mellisa Robinson pleads guilty at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court for obtaining property by deception

A woman has been convicted of using a Warrnambool council card to buy $5k worth of household goods for herself including an airfryer and iPad.

A former council worker who was previously convicted of fraudulently gained $40k in Centrelink benefits has admitted to fraudulently using her work-issued credit card to buy items for her own personal use.

Mellisa Robinson appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception, making a false statement and fraud.

The court was told Robinson – a former manager of Warrnambool City Council’s parenting and children’s service – made fraudulent purchases worth $4448 on a bank card she was entrusted with.

The court heard Robinson’s web of lies began unravelling when she purchased an iPad worth $1606 with the council-issued bank card in February 2021, claiming it was for a client.

The court heard Robinson attended work early on June 17, 2021, and told her team it was inside a cupboard — but her team responded that the iPad was not in the cupboard until she arrived.

This prompted an investigation into her use of the card for the purchases she had claimed were for “disadvantaged clients”.

Mellisa Robinson appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrates' Court on Thursday pleading guilty to obtaining property by deception.

Other fraudulent purchases included a blender worth $67, an air fryer, $545 worth of gift cards, a $100 fuel voucher, a vertical freezer, Woolworths vouchers, a delivery from Harvey Norman worth $1109, a vacuum cleaner, bicycle, barbecue and a chainsaw, the court heard.

Robinson also used the bank card to cover accommodation costs for a family trip to Melbourne, coming in at $486.

The court heard the children’s ages in the booking were the same ages as Robinson’s children.

Robinson resigned from her job on June 18, 2021.

Victoria Legal Aid senior lawyer Natasha Jayasuriya told the court Robinson had been going through family issues, which had carried on to her adult life, such as the break up of her parents.

She said Robinson had told her she had used the card to make purchases to help her family and that her behaviour made her “sick”.

Ms Jayasuriya said Robinson knew she made poor decisions and was under a lot of stress, and “dug herself into a deeper hole and matters got out of control”.

Ms Jayasuriya said Robinson had “strong work history” and had worked at the council for eight years, and enjoyed doing good work for the community.

The court heard Robinson wanted to “put all this behind her” and was trying to pay back what she spent on the items.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said Robinson was taking what she was not “entitled” to and took money for her own “personal gain”.

The court was told it was the second time she was before the court for dishonesty offences.

Robinson had previously breached a good behaviour bond she was placed on in 2019 after she claimed more than $40,000 in Centrelink benefits.

Mr Lethbridge said prison was in range, which prosecutor Carolyn Howe agreed with.

Robinson was convicted and placed on a Community Corrections Order for a period of 18 months and was ordered to undertake 240 hours of unpaid community work at Horsham Justice Centre.

She will also continue to pay the $4448.90 as compensation for the fraud.

Magistrate Lethbridge said he needed to make it “crystal clear” to Robinson that he will sentence her to four months imprisonment if she commits any further offences.