Heartless thief Sandro Cirianni avoids jail for robbing the blind
A heartless thief who robbed more than $200,000 from Guide Dogs Victoria so he could build a backyard pool and dine out at restaurants has managed to avoid a jail term.
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A heartless thief who robbed more than $200,000 from the blind to line his own pockets has managed to avoid a jail term.
Former Guide Dogs Victoria general manager Sandro Cirianni, 49, stole more than $210,000 from the charity while earning a $160,000 salary.
He blamed his offending on overwhelming fear of death, saying he wanted to provide for his family in case he died.
CHARITY BOSS BUSTED ROBBING THE BLIND
County Court judge Susan Cohen today rejected that submission, saying there was no logic to the excuse, or any evidence Cirianni had taken any steps to invest in their futures.
The father of three used the money to complete lavish renovations on his home, including decking it out with a new pool, buying personal items, and dining out.
Between 2013 and 2015 Cirianni falsified personal invoices, sending them to the Guide Dogs Victoria accounts department for payment.
Because building works were happening at the charity at the time, the invoices were not questioned.
While stealing from the charity Cirianni was recognised nationally as a Not for Profit Manager of the Year at the Australian Institute of Management’s annual Excellence Awards.
He was recognised for “steering the traditional style charity into a professional service organisation whilst maintaining its core values.”
“This award is great recognition for the way the team and I have worked together to see how we can do things a bit differently and be more innovative,” Cirianni said at the time.
“I really enjoy working collaboratively with people to see how they like to operate so that we can get the best out of them for the benefit of the whole organisation.”
Cirianni had been working with the charity for less than two years when he started robbing, and resigned three months before his amateur scam was detected.
Three missing airconditioning units during a 2016 stocktake at the charity were tracked to Cirianni’s Bundoora home triggering a comprehensive forensic audit.
A full review of Cirianni’s spending while at the charity uncovered almost three years of offending.
Cirianni fooled the charity into paying $178,000 for goods including air conditioners, hot water services, doors, shower screens, a pool, insulation, new roofing and fencing.
He used his corporate credit card to buy meals, hardware items and groceries, with 117 separate purchases found to be against company policy.
He also misused a fuel card, bringing the total amount he thieved from the charity to more than $210,000.
After being found out he made full admissions, and disclosed offending the forensic review had failed to detect.
“I love the organisation, I have made a terrible mistake,” he said.
Cirianni has since repaid the full amount, including the expense of the forensic audit conducted by Guide Dogs Victoria.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and begged to avoid a prison term.
Prosecutors didn’t oppose a non-custodial sentence.
Judge Cohen said Cirianni’s offending had undermined community confidence in not-for-profit organisations.
“Dishonestly using an employers money for one’s own advantage is serious offending and a clear breach of trust,” Judge Cohen said.
“You held a senior position in the administration of a not-for-profit organisation.
“You must have well known how hard people within that organisation were working to obtain funding.
“Your dishonest diverting of such funds for your personal benefit was a breach of trust of the people who had made donations”.
Judge Cohen refused to accept Cirianni’s explanation that he had made a “terrible mistake”, saying it was planned and prolonged offending.
She also rejected his explanation that he was trying to provide for his family, saying Cirianni did nothing to invest in their futures.
Sentencing him Judge Cohen said she had weighed in Cirianni’s favour a range of factors including the delay in bringing charges, and the fact he had paid back the money.
He was also entitled to leniency for his early plea of guilty, and co-operation with authorities, and his genuine remorse, she said.
Cirianni was placed on a three year Community Corrections Order and must complete 300 hours of unpaid work.
He was also fined $3750.
Judge Cohen said but for his plea of guilty, she would have jailed Cirianni for 2 years and nine months.