Kay Maree Cooper jailed after defrauding $64,000 from own giftware company

A former giftware company co-director is behind bars after ripping off more than $64,000 from her own business. Read how her scheme unravelled.

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A former giftware company co-director is behind bars after ripping off more than $64,000 from her own business.

Kay Maree Cooper, 62, was working at Giftware For You – a company she played a role in starting up – when she carried out the scheme from August, 2014 to February, 2017.

Southport District Court was told Cooper managed the day-to-day running of the business, while her South Australia-based co-director oversaw finances among other duties.

It was heard Cooper directly transferred company money to herself on more than 60 occasions, often disguising them by inventing a fake employee name.

Crown prosecutor Caitlin Usher said Cooper also withdrew cash from the company bank accounts at ATMs, and had customers pay money into a personal account that was named similarly to the business account.

The stolen funds totalled $64,635.62.

Crown prosecutor Caitlin Usher said Cooper’s fraud came to light after a suspicious invoice tipped off her co-director.

“(Cooper) used that money for personal and lifestyle expenses, which included gambling at certain casinos,” Ms Usher said.

“The co-director who had financially invested in the business did cease taking a wage to assist the business in recouping some losses, which were ultimately contributed to by (Cooper’s) fraudulent conduct.”

The court was told that despite lengthy delays in proceedings, Cooper had not paid any restitution.

It was heard Cooper had no similar offences in her minor and dated criminal history.

Defence barrister Josephine Salzman said Cooper previously spent 30 years working for a company and had risen to general manager before eventually starting with the giftware business.

Ms Salzman said Cooper was now working in an admin role at a Helensvale bakery and caring for her elderly mother.

Cooper pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.

She was sentenced to three years’ jail, to be suspended after she has served nine months in custody.

Originally published as Kay Maree Cooper jailed after defrauding $64,000 from own giftware company