Melbourne High business manager Frances Walshe sentenced to non-parole period of 14 months over decade-long deception

A business manager who stole more than $432,000 from Melbourne High has been jailed after her crimes were uncovered by one person who was “determined to investigate”.

A Melbourne High business manager who stole more than $432,000 from the prestigious school to feed her gambling addiction has been thrown in the slammer.

Frances Walshe, 65, will spend her first night behind bars on Monday after being jailed for at least 14 months for her decade-long deception.

County Court judge Peter Lauritsen told Walshe she had abused the trust given to her in her position which saw her oversee the school’s $20m annual budget and allowed her full access to its bank accounts without a secondary authorisation.

“You were able to act dishonestly because you were trusted by the school without reservation,” he said.

Walshe has been jailed for at least 14 months for her decade-long deception. Picture: Luis Ascui

The grandmother’s crimes, he said, were not uncovered until a new and determined principal, Tony Mordini, took over at the all boys’ school and began questioning the finances.

“Through the department, (the principal) was aware of the possibility of the existence of poor financial governance at the school,” Judge Lauritsen said.

“He was determined to investigate.”

He said Walshe had initially tried to hinder that investigation and “fobbed off” the principal with her assurances.

Walshe’s crimes were uncovered when a new principal began questioning the finances. Picture: Luis Ascui

“You dismissed his concerns and told him the existing policies and procedures made his job easier,” Judge Lauritsen told Walshe.

“After some months you gave him the security token, which enabled him to access the school’s bank accounts.

“After gaining access, he changed the process, such as you were no longer a signatory to payments or transfers.”

The court heard the principal worked with the Education Department and discovered errors in the school’s financial documents.

Walshe was confronted with the allegations in a meeting in November 2021, where she admitted stealing the school’s money.

She immediately resigned and Dr Mordini reported the deception to police.

Inquiries found Walshe nicked a total of $432,546.88 in 264 transactions between 2012 and 2021.

She used white corrective fluid to cover references to her bank account on financial documents, with the white markings disappearing when photocopied.

Walshe pleaded guilty to 10 charges of theft and a single count of obtaining financial advantage by deception, blaming “boredom and loneliness” in an unhappy marriage, which had pushed her towards poker machines, for her crimes.

“You gambled your salary and committed these offences to fund your expenses of daily living,” Judge Lauritsen said.

He sentenced her to a two-year jail term, but set a non-parole period of 14 months.

The prosecution on Monday also withdrew its application seeking a restitution order, which means Walshe will not be ordered to pay back the stolen funds.